Bilston dental practice bids farewell to dental nurse 46 years after the day she started
A dental nurse was treated to afternoon tea at Himley Hall 46 years to the day she started work at the Bilston dentist.
Debbie Oates is retiring after after nearly half a century at Church Street Dental Practice after starting as a dental nurses becoming practice manager and then being a receptionist for the last two years.
Debbie, aged 63, said: "I've loved working at Church Street and met so many wonderful people. I've trained lots of dental nurses who went on to have careers themselves.
"Its like my second family here and I get called "work mum" all the time. It takes two years to train a dental nurses so I get close with all of them and I love to see how well they have all done.
"I started here when I was 16 so it has been a massive part of my life."
Debbie retired last week so she could help her daughter in Worcestershire with childcare.
She said: "I'd like to say goodbye to all the patients, I've seen them grow up, have children and have grandchildren. They have become friends and very important to me."
Dental practice staff, both old and new, joined her for afternoon tea at Himley Hall.
She said: "It was wonderful, I saw one person for the first time for 30 years, it was so lovely to have so many people connected with the practice all together."
Jaswinder Jandu, practice partner, said some patients take Debbie's word for it over dentists.
He said: "The patients trust every word Debbie says and they love her. She has made such an important contribution to the practice over the years and we will really miss her.
"Seeing patients grow up and have children and then grandchildren continue to come to the practice and see Debbie on reception always friendly and greeting with a warm welcome."