Elizabeth Grace Neill (née Campbell; 26 May 1846 – 18 August 1926) was a nurse from New Zealand who lobbied for passage of laws requiring training and national registration of nurses and midwives; in 1901, New Zealand was the first country in the world to introduce such laws.
She was the oldest daughter of nine children born to James Archibald Campbell and Maria Grace of Barcaldine.
[4] The couple moved to Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, where they had their first and only son, James Oliver Campbell Neill.
A year later she was appointed by the Queensland Government to a Royal Commission on working conditions for shop and factory workers.
Combined with her work as a journalist, her knowledge of the problems associated with giving charitable aid led to her appointment in 1893 as the first female factory inspector in New Zealand.
Once another doctor, Frank Hay, was able to take over that position, however, Neill devoted herself to a project that would provide suitable nursing service for all of New Zealand.
Neill faced much opposition from doctors who thought that these hospitals would threaten their own incomes and control of the system.
These founding hospitals have played an important role in developing good care for maternity patients.
Due to her impact at this congress, she was made an honorary member of the Matron's Council of Great Britain.
In 1901 she once again used her knowledge of social conditions to investigate the administration of charitable aid in Sydney for the government of New South Wales.
Neill retired from her position with the New Zealand government and joined her son who had moved to the United States.
There she resided until World War I, where she served as sister in charge of the children's ward at Wellington Hospital.