Colin Fraser Brockington was Professor of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Manchester from 1952 to 1965. During that time he developed the Diploma in Community Nursing, the first pre-registration training course for nurses at a British University. This paper traces Brockington's education and career and explores his commitment to university-based nursing education which appears to have stemmed from his desire to enhance and broaden the role of the health visitor. It also considers the implications of the innovative course at Manchester and evaluates the way in which it influenced the gradual movement of nursing education into the university sector throughout the UK.
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HallettC. The ‘Manchester scheme’: a study of the Diploma in Community Nursing, the first pre-registration nursing programme in a British University.Nursing Inquiry2005; 12: 287–94.
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The participants were Dr Dorothy Baker, interviewed by the author June 2003, Manchester; Professor C Fraser Brockington, interviewed by the author June 2003, Ballasalla, Isle of Man; Professor Karen A Luker, interviewed by the author June, 2003, Manchester; Baroness Jean MacFarlane, interviewed by the author April 2003, Manchester; Miss Nora Marsh, interviewed by the author March 2003, Blackburn; Professor Alwyn Smith, interviewed by the author June 2003, Arnside, Cumbria.
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BrockingtonCF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 3-11; Brockington CF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7): p. 1; Oral History Interview: Fraser Brockington, June 2003, transcript, pp. 7-8.
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BrockingtonCF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 11-5. Oral History Interview: Fraser Brockington, June 2003, transcript, pp. 8-9.
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BrockingtonCF. Diphtheritic hypopiesia.The Lancet1931; 34:1387–8; Brockington CF. A Case of Post Vaccinal Encephalitis. Reprinted from Guy's Gazette, May 1929; 57: 34; Brockington CF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 19-26; Brockington CF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7): p. 1.
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BrockingtonCF. The difficulties of public health, past, present and future. Reprinted from The Lancet1949; 51: 759–69.
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Brockington CF, Lightwood R. Duodenal ulceration in infants. an account of two cases. Reprinted from The Lancet 1932;35:1209. Brockington CF, Lightwood R. Lipiodol in the diagnosis of congenital oesophageal atresia. Archives of Disease in Childhood 1933;8:48; CollisWRF, BrockingtonCF. Tuberculosis in childhood. Its aetiology and prognosis as shown by the stomach lavage method of obtaining Tubercle bacilli. Reprinted from The Lancet1933; 36: 127; Brockington CF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 38-42.
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BrockingtonCF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 43-53; quote on p. 44.
14.
BrockingtonF. The influence of the growing family upon the diet in urban and rural districts. Author's presentation copy. From The Journal of Hygiene1938;XXXVIII: 1–5. Brockington wrote several papers on this and related subjects. See, for example: Brockington CF. Further observations upon the influence of the growing family upon the diet in rural districts in Sussex. The Journal of Hygiene 1937;38:547-57; Brockingon CF. A Further Study of the Diet of Rural Workers and the Effect which the Growing Family has upon it. From the Annual Report of the North Eastern Combined District, 1937; Brockington CF. The evidence for compulsory pasteurization of milk. Reprinted from the British Medical Journal 1937; i:667; Brockington CF. The dependence of body-weight on animal protein foods: a study of 120 children in 63 families. Reprinted from Public Health 1939:209; Brockington CF. Further observations on the relationship between gain in weight and diet in children. Reprinted from Public Health 1939:307; Brockington CF. Trace elements in relation to health. Reprinted from Public Health 1944:1; Brockington CF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7): p. 3; Oral History Interview: C Fraser Brockington, June 2003, transcript, p. 7 (Brockington, Personal papers).
15.
BrockingtonCF. The Unparented child. Reprinted from Public Health 1946; Brockington CF. Training of Dieticians. Reprinted from Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, Vol. 4. Read at the Sixteenth English Meeting, 17 November 1945. Publ. 1946, p. 277; Brockington CF. Homelessness in children. Causes and prevention. Reprinted from The Lancet 1946;48:933; Brockington CF. Diet in War-Time. Address by Dr Fraser Brockington, with practical instructions by Miss IF Bennett. To teachers, nurses, and social workers. Warwickshire County Council National Education Campaign (Ministry of Health Circular 2171) 1946. Brockington continued to publish on child health throughout his career. See, for example: Craig WS, Kitching GA, Davies IG, Brockington CF. Continuing nursing care for the small infant discharged from hospital. Reprinted from the British Medical Journal1951; I:1234. Brockington CF. Statistics - Mortality and Legal. In: Gaisford W, Lightwood R, eds. A reprint from Paediatrics Supplement. London: Butterworth and Co, 1960 (Brockington, Personal papers).
16.
BrockingtonCF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 3–4. Brockington CF (op. cit. Note 7): p. 122; Oral History Interview: Fraser Brockington, June 2003, p. 12.
17.
BrockingtonCF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7): p. 4.
18.
Brockington CF. The need for a revision in the training of health visitors. Public Health 1949:144-6; Brockington CF. Thoughts on the training of health visitors. Journal of the Royal Sanitary Institute 1949;LXIX:514-16. See also: BrockingtonCF. Health education as a cultural philosophy.International Journal of Nursing Studies1963; 1: 17–25. Brockington CF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 217-18.
19.
Oral History Interview: C Fraser Brockington, June 2003, pp. 12-15; quote on p. 14.
20.
BrockingtonCF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7): p. 4.
21.
See also: Brockington CF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 191-204.
22.
BrockingtonCF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 147-93. Oral History Interview: C Fraser Brockington, June 2003, pp. 15-16.
23.
BrockingtonCF. Manchester health centre. Educational function.British Medical Journal1952; 95: 490–1. Brockington published on various aspects of university education. See, for example, Brockington CF, Stein Z. Admission, achievement, and social class. Reprinted from Universities Quarterly 1963 (passim). (Brockington, Personal papers).
24.
BrockingtonCF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 28–34. Oral History Interview: Fraser Brockington, June 2003, p. 17.
25.
BrockingtonCF (op. cit. Note 7) (passim). Brockington CF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 28–34.
26.
BrockingtonCF. Short History of Public Health.London: Churchill,1956; reprinted 1966. Brockington CF. Public Health in the Nineteenth Century. London: Livingstone, 1965. See also: Brockington CF. Housing from the First World War to the present day. Reprinted from The Lancet 1955a:244-7; Brockington CF. Mental Health as a Public Health Problem. A Lecture delivered at the Burma Medical Association, 1955; Brockington CF. Preventive Medicine Section. Presidential Address. Excerpt from the papers read before the Health Congress of the Royal Society of Health, Health at Blackpool, 24-27 April 1956; Brockington CF. Environmental public health services. Public health and the general practitioner. The Medical Press 1956:289; Brockington CF. Administration of Community Health Services. Excerpt from the papers read before the Health Congress of the Royal Society of Health, at Torquay 25-29 April 1960, Royal Society of Health; Brockington CF. Public health at the privy council 1831-1834. Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences 1961; XVI: 16173 (Brockington, Personal papers).
27.
BrockingtonCF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7).
28.
For an account of the development of the first nursing course at the University of Manchester, see Hallett C (op. cit. Note 5): pp. 287-94.
29.
Oral History Interview: Fraser Brockington, June 2003, p. 19. Once degrees in nursing were established in the UK, the debate extended to post-basic education, with graduate nurses commenting that the academic level of the instruction needed to be raised: Susan Andrew. AndrewS. Januforum: focus on developments in British nursing.Journal of Advanced Nursing1984; 9: 89–101.
30.
BrockingtonCF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 217-23.
31.
Oral History Interview: C Fraser Brockington, June 2003, p. 19.
32.
Ibid.: pp. 220-1.
33.
Sister ReinkemeyerMH. The Limited Impact of Basic University Programmes in Nursing: A British Case Study. Dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley, June 1966 (passim).
34.
University of Manchester.Diploma in Community Nursing.Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Manchester [printed prospectus].
35.
BrockingtonCF. A University Course in Nursing. A Report on the First Four Years of the University of Manchester Experimental Course in Nurse Education.Manchester: North Manchester Hospital Management Committee,1964.
36.
Oral History Interviews: Nora Marsh, interviewed by the author, Blackburn, March 2003; Fraser Brockington, interviewed by the author, Ballasalla, June 2003.
37.
Brockington CF. The Manchester scheme: the course as I see it. Nursing Times 1960:905-6. Wilkie E. The manchester scheme: the plan of the course. Nursing Times 1960:907-8; Marsh N. The hospital tutor's view. Nursing Times 1960:908-9; Comber-Higgs IM. Five frank questions to the Matron; from an interview with Mrs. IM Comber-Higgs, SRN; RSCN; S.M. Matron Crumpsall Hospital, Nursing Times 1960:909; See also: Marsh N. University diploma in community nursing. Nursing Mirror 1961:i-iv; MarshN. Diploma in community nursing - Manchester University.Nurse1963; 2: 1.
38.
The Platt Committee eventually reported in 1964. Royal College of Nursing and National Council of Nurses of the United Kingdom. A Reform of Nursing Education. First Report of a Special Committee on Nurse Education. London: Royal College of Nursing, 1964, passim. Fraser Brockington's was an influential voice in a number of debates about nursing in higher education. See, for example: World Health Organisation. Provisional Programme and Draft Documents: Symposium on Higher Education in Nursing, The Hague, 30 October to 3 November 1972, Copenhagen: World Health Organisation, Regional Office for Europe.
39.
Marsh N. Student teacher: a small experiment within the ‘Manchester’ course. Nursing Times 1970:135; Marsh N, Morton P. Towards a University Degree in Nursing; 1. The course programme: organisation and assessment. Nursing Times Occasional Papers, 1 January 1970:1-3; Marsh N, Morton P. Towards a University Degree in Nursing: 2. Opinions on the Course and Follow-up of students. Nursing Times Occasional Paper, 8 January 1970:5,6; MarshN. Development of the undergraduate nursing course in the University of Manchester.Journal of Advanced Nursing1978; 3: 297–313.
40.
University of Manchester, Diploma in Community Nursing. Minutes of a meeting to be held in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine on Wednesday 15th December, 1965, to discuss and keep open the possibility of a ‘Degree in Nursing’, The University of Manchester, 1965; Morton P. Material for Discussion at the Meeting to be held on Thursday 23rd June 1966 in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Clinical Sciences Building, York Place, Manchester; Including an Assessment of Requirements for a Degree Course in Nursing, University of Manchester. June 1966.
41.
The planning process for the conversion of the diploma to the degree course began in the mid-1960s. See: Morton P (op. cit. Note 40); Smith A. University of Manchester, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine. 1967, Proposal for a Degree Course in Nursing Science, The University of Manchester [accompanied by a letter to C Fraser Brockington, requesting advice].
42.
Oral History Interviews: Nora Marsh, March 2003; Alwyn Smith, June 2003; University of Manchester (Revised 1975) Bachelor of Nursing. Department of Nursing, University of Manchester. Marsh N (op. cit. Note 39): p. 135. MarshN. ‘Development of the undergraduate nursing course in the University of Manchester’.Journal of Advanced Nursing1978; 3: 297–313.
43.
Oral History Interview: Alwyn Smith, June 2003. Transcript p. 2.
44.
Oral History Interviews: Jean MacFarlane, March 2003; Dorothy Baker, June 2003.
45.
Oral History Interviews: Karen Luker, April 2003; Dorothy Baker, June 2003.
46.
Marsh N. Summary report of a study on the career patterns of diplomates/graduates of the undergraduate nursing course in the University of Manchester, England. Journal of Advanced Nursing 1976;1:539-42. See also: Marsh N. Summary report of the school educational attainment, General Nursing Council test scores and performance in university examinations of Manchester University's undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Advanced Nursing 1977;2:209-12. For a wider view of the career destinations of UK nurse graduates, see: Ring N (op. cit. Note 1): pp. 199-209. Many editorials and commentaries on the career destinations of nurse-graduates were written in the 1970s and 1980s, along with several reports of longitudinal studies; see, for example: Margaret Scott-Wright, Margaret Gilmore and Alison Tierney (op. cit. Note 2): pp. 317-24; Margaret Scott-Wright, Margaret Gilmore and Alison Tierney (op. cit. Note 2): pp. 205-14; Sinclair H. The careers of nurse graduates. Nursing Times Occasional Paper, 29 February 1984;8:56-9; Sinclair H. Graduate nurses in the United Kingdom; myth and reality. Nurse Education Today 1987;7:24-9; Kemp J. The graduate's progress. Nursing Times, 4 December 1985:42-3; Kemp J. A longitudinal study of nursing graduates. Nursing Times 1988,84:53; Kemp J. Graduates in nursing: a report of a longitudinal study at the University of Hull. Journal of Advanced Nursing 1988;13:281-7; Bircumshaw D. A follow-up of nursing graduates. Nursing Times 1988;84:17; Bircumshaw D. Perception of graduate nurses. Nursing Times 1988;4:19, 63; Bircumshaw D, Chapman C. A follow-up of the graduates of the Cardiff Bachelor of Nursing Degree Course. Journal of Advanced Nursing 1988;13:273-9; Fraser M, Titherington B. Career paths of experienced graduates. Nursing Standard 1989;29:29; Fraser M, Titherington R. Where are they now? The career paths of graduates from post-registration degrees in nursing in England. International Journal of Nursing Studies 1991;28:257-65; MacGuire J. The nurse/graduate in the United Kingdom; career paths. International Nursing Review 1971;18:367-80; MacGuire J. Guest editorial: nurses with degrees in the United Kingdom: careers and contributions and challenges. Journal of Advanced Nursing 1991;16:625-7; MacGuire J, Sparkes S. The nurse/graduate in the United Kingdom; patterns of qualification. International Nursing Review 1970;17:350-72; Montague SE, Herbert R. Career paths of graduates of a degree-linked nursing course. Journal of Advanced Nursing 1982;7:359-70; Howard J, Brooking J. The career paths of nursing graduates from Chelsea College, University of London. International Journal of Nursing Studies 1987;24:181-9; Reid J, Nellis P, Boore J. Graduate nurses in Northern Ireland: their career paths, aspirations and problems. International Journal of Nursing Studies 1987;24:215-25; Thomas MC. Achievement and conflict in undergraduate nurses. Nursing Times Occasional Papers 1979;75:93-5; Thomas E. Graduates’ careers in nursing. Nursing Standard 1989;4:45; Clarke M. Research in Nurse Education. Nursing Times Occasional Papers 17 February1977:25-8; ClarkeM. Innovation in nursing education: the Hull experience.Nurse Education Today1981; 1: 11–15.
47.
OwenGM. Curriculum integration in nursing education: a concept or a way of life? A study of six courses integrating basic nursing education and health visiting in a single course.Journal of Advanced Nursing1977; 2: 443–60.
48.
LewisS. Nursing by Degree.The Guardian 11 January 1967: 8–9.
49.
Oral History Interview: Jean McFarlane, April 2003. See also: LukerKA. Research and the configuration of nursing services.Journal of Clinical Nursing1997; 6: 259–67.
50.
LukerKA. Reading nursing: the burden of being different.International Journal of Nursing Studies1984; 21: 1–7; Thomas MC (op. cit. Note 46): pp. 93-5.
51.
OwenGM (op. cit. Note 1); Altschul AT. Nursing and higher education.International Journal of Nursing Studies1993;20:123–30; Auld MG. The need for nurse graduates in Scotland: a view from the Scottish Home and Health Department. Nurse Education Today 1987; 7: 30-3; Vivienne House. Attitudes to degree courses and shortened courses for graduates: interviews with ward sisters/charge nurses. Nursing Times Occasional Paper, 31 March 1977:41-4.
52.
See for example: Clarke M (op. cit. Note 3): pp. 11-15; O'Brien D. Evaluation of an undergraduate nursing course, Journal of Advanced Nursing 1984;9:401-6; Lewis, Shirley. Nursing by Degree, The Guardian, 11 January 1967:8-9. The British nursing degrees were also an important influence on Australian nurse-education. Degrees were developed in Australia from the mid-1970s onwards: BottorffJ. Degree graduates: reflections one year on.The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing1986; 3: 33–45.
53.
Brockington's contribution to the Nursing Department at the University of Manchester was recognised at its Anniversary Reception and Conference in the mid-1980s. In a letter of 5 August 1985, Jean McFarlane commented ‘the [Nursing] Department has changed the face of nursing in this country and further afield’: Letter 5 August 1985, Jean McFarlane to C Fraser Brockington, University of Manchester. See also C Fraser Brockington's reply of 12 December 1985.
54.
World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen. C Fraser Brockington, Extracts from Diary: The University Nursing Course p. 6. [Held by School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Manchester].
55.
Brockington was still publishing on public health in the 1990s. See for example: BrockingtonCF. Demographic Yearbook 1992: the disease picture of the developed and developing worlds compared,Public Health1992; 111: 129–33.
56.
BrockingtonF. The Development of Health Units, World Health Organisation, Seventh World Health Assembly, 1954.
57.
BrockingtonF. A doctor looks at Russia.Blackwood's Magazine, March 1956, 1685, 279; Brockington CF. Medical education in the USSR. Reprinted from Public Health 1956 (passim); Brockington CF. Public health in Russia. Reprinted from The Lancet 1956: 138-41; Brockington (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 224-41.
58.
BrockingtonCF (op. cit. Note 7): pp. 240–50. Brockington CF. Undated, Curriculum Vitae (op. cit. Note 7).
59.
Brockington also continued to publish on the subject of healthcare in Europe. See, for example: Brockington CF. Social medicine in Western Germany today. Reprinted from Public Health 1962 (passim) (Brockington, Personal papers).
