rank of Superintending Sister was introduced. There was no overall head of the service until the introduction of the rank of Head Sister-in-Chief on 1 August 1927. By 1937 Head Sister and Head Sister-in-Chief had been renamed Matron and Matron-in-Chief. The ranking system changed during the Second World War. Ratings, known as Naval Nurses, were introduced in 1960, with the integration of the WRNS nurses. Their ranking system was similar to that of Royal Navy ratings. In 1982, in preparation for the introduction of male officers, the Nursing Officers' ranking system was changed. In 1995 the QARNNS adopted Royal Navy ranks, although the head of the Nursing Service was no longer a one-star equivalent, the senior Captain of the QARNNS was appointed Director Naval Nursing Service (DNNS) and styled with the historic post of Matron-in-Chief. List of Head Sisters-in-Chief/Matrons-in-Chief/Directors of Naval Nursing Services QARNNS Head Sister-in-Chief, Naval Nursing Service Margaret Keenan, 1927–1929 Mildred Hughes, 1929–1934 Catherine Renwick, 1934–1937 Matron-in-Chief, Naval Nursing Service B. M. Martin, 1937–1940 Annabella Ralph, 1940–1941 Dame Doris Beale, 1941–1944 Dame Matilda Goodrich, 1944–1947 Olga Franklin, 1947–1950 Jeannie Gillanders, 1950–1953 Kathleen Chapman, 1953–1956 Barbara Nockolds, 1956–1959 Helen Moore, 1959–1962 Joan Woodgate, 1962–1966 Mary Fetherston-Dilke, 1966–1970 Christina Thompson, 1970–1973 Cynthia Cooke, 1973–1976 Patricia Gould, 1976–1980 Margaret Collins, 1980–1983 Jean Robertson, 1983–1986 Eileen Northway, 1986–1990 Jane Titley, 1990–1994 Captain Claire Taylor, 1994–1995 Director Naval Nursing Service Captain Claire Taylor, 1995–1996 Captain Patricia Hambling, 1996–2000 Captain Michael Bowen, 2000–2003 Captain Lynne Gibbon, 2003–2008 Captain Helen Allkins, 2008–2011 Captain Inga Kennedy, 2011–2015 Captain Steven J. Spencer, 2015–2018 Captain Alison J. Hofman RRC, August 2018–October 2019 Captain Lisa M. Taylor, November 2019–? Captain Neale D. Piper ARRC, June 2021–present See also Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service Royal Navy Medical Branch Notes References External links Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service Ratings Association Medical units and formations of the United Kingdom Military nursing Naval medicine Naval units and formations of the United Kingdom Nursing organisations in the United Kingdom 1884 establishments in the United Kingdom