Laparoscopic nurse practitioners

Laparoscopic Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Debbie is a Laparoscopic Nurse Practitioner with a specialist interest in laparoscopic general surgery at Colchester Hospital and has been in this post since 2006.
Debbie trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, graduating in 1985. She started work as a scrub nurse in theatres in 1987 and over the years has held senior posts in theatres and the day unit at Colchester. She was instrumental in introducing pre-admission and also in implementing admission on the day of surgery in the hospital. As part of her role, she assists in theatre, helps to manage ward patients and delivers continuity of patient care. She has expertise in the management of complex abdominal wounds. Debbie is also actively involved in education; helping to develop and teach on Human Factors in patient safety, leading the SFA laparoscopic day at the Iceni centre in Colchester, and part of the team delivering lap core skills, hernia study days and common bile duct exploration study days. Debbie is the Chair of the Association of Laparoscopic Theatre Staff. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her grandchild and walking with her dogs.

Laparoscopic Advanced Nurse Practitioner (SCP)

Jane completed her nursing training in Dublin in 1984. She started work at Colchester Hospital in 1989 in theatres and was a theatre sister before joining the Department of Surgery as a Surgical Care Practitioner. She did her BSc at Essex University followed by a MSc. She is also a nurse prescriber. Jane works as an integral part of the surgical team, assisting in theatre, as well as seeing patients in clinic and providing continuity of care. Jane introduced the Enhanced Recovery Programme to Colchester Hospital in 2005 and is the Clinical Lead for this. She has expertise in the management of complex abdominal wounds. Jane is involved in teaching nationally, and for many years was the chair of the Association of Laparoscopic Theatre Staff. She assists in many different aspects of research with the multi-disciplinary team. Outside of work, her interests are walking, trekking and climbing, as well as being a regular at the gym. She also enjoys reading and travelling.

Surgical Care Practitioner

Estelle studied Geography at Leeds prior to doing her nursing training at Anglia Ruskin University. She was appointed to Colchester Hospital in 2006 and worked on the surgical wards, prior to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Urology. Having completed her MSc at the University of Essex, she has taken up the role of Surgical Care Practitioner in the General Surgical Department. In addition, she is a nurse prescriber and helps to manage complex abdominal wounds. She is currently undergoing laparoscopic training. In her spare time she enjoys looking after her chickens, crocheting, watching films and reading.