There are 14 GP surgeries across the island, the majority of which employ practice nurses.

Their workload is varied and includes smear testing, ear examinations, wound dressings, baby immunisations, travel vaccinations, health promotion and the management of patients with chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

Practice nurses, who have undertaken additional training, are also able to assess, diagnose and prescribe treatment for patients, without having to refer them to the doctor.

This allows patients to be seen more quickly and helps to free up the GP’s time to deal with more serious conditions.

Debby Ashe has worked at the Village Walk Health Centre since 2002, along with another practice nurse, Louise Thomas.

Debby began her nurse training in 1984, at Noble’s Hospital, where she was awarded a gold medal for being the best overall student nurse in her year.

Upon qualifying, she worked on the female surgical ward before moving to Kensington Group Practice in 1990 and then on to Village Walk in Onchan. Debby has undertaken additional training and holds Primary Care Diplomas in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, diabetes and coronary heart disease.

She has also completed an exacting non-medical prescribing course at Keyll Darree Nurse Education Centre.

Debby’s day begins at 7.30am. After checking her emails and the surgery’s electronic records system (EMIS), she sees her first patient at 8am.

On an average day, she has between 30 and 35 patients to see, although this number can double if, for example, the winter flu vaccination programme is underway.

Despite being in the job for 30 years, Debby still finds it as rewarding as when she first started.

She says: ’It’s a varied and challenging role which is quite different from other nursing positions.

’I enjoy working with such a wide variety of people and never really knowing what will walk through my door.’

She acknowledges that time management can be difficult at times, especially if patients need to discuss sensitive issues: ’You have to give people enough time to explain what the problem is, but you also have to be mindful of the next appointment slot.’

Debby works closely with the doctors and admin staff at Village Walk.

General practitioner, Dr Kate Christian, recognises the important role nurses play in the surgery.

She says: ’Our nurses are invaluable members of the team.

’They are both nurse prescribers which means they can see, and prescribe for, patients independently.

’We are very fortunate to have Debby and Louise at our surgery.’

â?¢ If you would like more information on a career in nursing, please email [email protected]

The World Health Organisation has designated 2020 The Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Isle of Man Newspapers is supporting this initiative with a page every month highlighting the many and various areas in which members of these professions work, along with some of the events which will be taking place during the year to celebrate them. All the features will be contributed by nurses, midwives and other from the island’s health services. This month, we look at the work of Debby Ashe, a practice nurse at the Village Walk Health Centre in Onchan.