Our History
Sibylla Maude
Emily Sibylla Maude was a pioneer in nursing, dedicating her life to serving the needs of the poor.
Her death, in Christchurch on July 12 1935, marked the beginning of the first and most recognised, district nursing scheme in New Zealand.
The eldest of 8 children, Nurse Maude was born in Christchurch in St Peter’s Parish on August 11 1862.
Her interest in nursing began as a hospital visitor and in 1889 she went to England to train at Middlesex Hospital as a paying Lady Probationer.
In November 1892 she set sail for home and started work as Matron of Christchurch Hospital, but the relationship was not always an easy one, with Nurse Maude wanting more resources to help nurse and care for the poor in the community.
On the 5 October 1896, after a long period of dissatisfaction with Christchurch Hospital, Nurse Maude left to work in the community as a district nurse initially engaged by the parishes of St Michael & Sydenham.
Within her first year Nurse Maude had made more than 1,000 visits on foot and district nursing was on its way to becoming an integral part of the community.
Leading the Way
With more than 1300 staff and a diverse range of services and support, Nurse Maude continues to be a driver for change in community healthcare when it sees opportunities to improve the health and broader wellbeing of its clients.
Founded in 1896 by Nurse Sibylla Maude, on little more than a desire to bring care to the most vulnerable in the community and a relentless drive to do so, the organisation that bears her name today now brings services to more than 400,000 people.
Now, as always, Nurse Maude continues to lead the way in community care.
In excess of a million hours a year go into providing District and Specialist Nursing, Homecare services, Care Coordination, Hospice Palliative care, stomal and continence services and support services such as equipment, linen and meals.
Nurse Maude is also a significant investor in the future of community health care, establishing the New Zealand Institute of Community Healthcare to ensure that research and innovation in this sector is well supported.
As a charitable organisation, Nurse Maude’s income relies on donations and legacies, as well as being derived from contracts with health providers such as the District Health Boards.
Nurse Maude’s reputation for being able to deliver high quality community care is an enviable one, and that is due in no small measure to the experience, commitment and sheer drive of those who work there.
Working in partnership with others in developing and implementing new services and projects to advance community, nursing and hospice palliative care ensures Nurse Maude remains a relevant, dynamic and innovative force in the health sector.
More than 110 years on, Nurse Maude is still leading the way.
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