A NURSE successful in improving the health of the male patients in her practice is celebrating after having been awarded the Queen’s Nurse Award in recognition of her delivery of high standards of patient care.

Debbie Yates, from Darwen Healthcare received her Queens Nurse award at the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) Awards ceremony in London.

The Awards ceremony recognises and celebrates the achievements in community nursing and the dedication, the passion and the skills of nurses working in the community today

The title of Queen’s Nurse is given to individual nurses who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. The award also offers recipients the chance to spread their good practice as it allows them to be involved in developing and influencing national policy and practice in nursing.

Mrs Yates has been a nurse for 30 years, 25 of which have been in general practice and 10 years being an advanced nurse practitioner.

She spent 20 years working in the south Manchester area, during which time she was a nurse board member of the local CCG and lead for respiratory.

She was involved in instigating pulmonary rehabilitation into the area and a local respiratory self-help group for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients.

As well as specialising in respiratory she is also involved in diabetes and has performed minor surgery for the last 8 years. In addition, Mrs Yates has started performing contraceptive implants and joint injections this year.

Mrs Yates has also led on a Queen’s Nurse funded project call AHEAD (airways, health, education and diabetes) which aims to increase uptake and improve men’s health within the practice and has seen great results so far. The project is running unto March 2018.

Mrs Yates said: “I feel honoured to be chosen for a Queen’s Nurse Award.

"I was particularly touched that this honour was as a result of being recommended by two of my patients and my current manager. The Queens Institute has kindly enabled me as a nurse, and the practice, to provide better health care and target those men who otherwise would not attend for health check or end up in A&E with their respiratory condition. We have prevented several emergency admissions by proactive education and management.”

Janet Thomas, executive nurse and associate director quality and commissioning at NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “On behalf of the CCG, I’d like to congratulate Debbie on the success of becoming a Queen’s Nurse. I’m really proud of the dedication and commitment she has shown to her patients. She is a credit to nurses everywhere.”