Jane Bell

Jane Bell (1873–1959) was an Scotland-born Australian nurse and midwife. She is best known for her work with Australian Imperial Force (AIF) field hospitals in Egypt in World War I, and for her advocacy for the nursing profession.

Bell moved to London in 1906, where she trained in midwifery at the then-named Queen Charlotte's Hospital where she was employed as deputy superintendent of nursing. Her work there as interrupted when, following the outbreak of World War I, in 1914, she was appointed principal matron of the First Australian General Hospital in Egypt. Upon arrival she was immediately embroiled in a conflict with 'the military establishment' and was asked to return to Australia. A later inquiry into the administration hospital vindicated her stand and paved the way for the 1916 reorganisation of the Australian Army Medical and Nursing Services. ), established a nurses preliminary training school in 1927 and created the first" special diet kitchen' in an Australian hospital in 1929.

Throughout her career Bell campaigned for recognition of the importance of nursing and achieved many reforms in working conditions and training. She aimed to "eliminate the perception of nurses as ladies with lamps, rather than trained professionals".

In 2013 she was inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women as a change agent.

"Jane Bell Lane" located in the Queen Victoria Village retail precinct in Melbourne is named in her honour. In 2011 her great nephew donated her medals and OBE to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.