It is an outdated notion which brings back memories of Hattie Jacques-style hospitals

Bill McDermott, RCN delegate

But delegates at the Royal College of Nursing annual congress in Harrogate said the concept was sexist and outdated.

They said the idea of a matron automatically conjured up images of Hattie Jacques' comic role in the Carry On films.

Concerns

Ray Rowden, from London, said: "I have concerns about what the government is trying to do with this term.

"It seems they have a seemingly insatiable appetite for an outdated concept of a woman in a supposedly dominant role on some kind of mythical charger.

"The matron was traditionally subservient in a mother role to the male, father role in the doctor.

"If you look at what most of these women were, their powers were very limited."

He added: "For a party that is so-called `modern' to hark back to dubious days or dubious titles is frankly lamentable."

Mr Rowden said the new powers should instead be given to the charge nurse or ward sister.

Bill McDermott, from the South West, fumed: "It is an outdated notion which brings back memories of Hattie Jacques-style hospitals. Nurses don't want them."

Sexist

And Paul Jebb, from the North West, said: "The sexist title of Matron serves nobody's interests. I wouldn't want to see the return of Matron. I wouldn't want to see her anywhere."

Let's listen to what it is that is wanted of us

Derek Blackshaw, RCN delegate

Margaret Norris, from London, recalled: "The last time I had contact with matron was 30 years ago.

"We were all frightened of her. We were petrified if we got called into her."

But Derek Blackshaw warned: "Let's listen to what it is that is wanted of us.

"We may not like the term but what is wanted by the public is someone with authority and identity.

"They want to know that there is someone they can identify who can sort things out."

Under Labour's plans modern matrons would be able to hire and fire caterers and cleaners, and to liase with patients and their relatives.