THIS week two asthma experts from the National Respiratory Training Centre in the United Kingdom were on the island to help local health care professionals prepare for a special asthma care exam - but if Nurse Liz Boden has her way they're here for the last time.

Asthma nurses Joan Flemming and Judith McCallister were in Bermuda for a week to help 21 asthma students prepare for the Diploma In Asthma Care exam. The exam is organised local by charity Open Airways which educates the community about asthma and how to control it.

While they were welcomed with open arms Nurse Liz Boden, founder of Open Airways, hopes they won't need to return. During the workshop, two Bermudian asthma care trainers looked on.

"Leonette Georges and Debbie Barboza have completed a course to be an asthma trainer," said Nurse Flemming during a lunch break at the Bermuda College. "But before they start taking on the training role, they have to sit in and watch experienced trainers run the course. They are getting the hands on experience."

Also in the workshop were 21 students who have spent the last six months studying for their oral, practical and written exams in asthma care.

People from all walks of the health care profession: doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, community nurses and health aides take the course. Nurse Boden said the doctors often come in cocky, sure they know everything and leave with a failing grade.

"It is not an automatic pass," said Nurse McAllister. "They have to work for it. Once you have this exam it is a recognised qualification across the world. Some of them come in with the attitude that I don't need any extra tuition; I know it all. And unfortunately, those are the ones that often fail it. These girls here have all worked very hard."

Liz Boden was the first Bermudian nurse to do the diploma in asthma care in 1991. She founded Open Airways in 1998 and since then asthma related admissions to the hospital have plunged. "In 2000 an instructors course was held to see if we had any Bermudian nurses who could become international trainers like Judith and Joan," said Nurse Boden. "To have our own trainers will enable us to hold courses whenever we want at reduced cost. Paying airfares and hotel bills for UK trainers is expensive."

Debbie Barboza who now runs the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital asthma education centre and Leonette Georges were selected to become Bermuda's first international trainers.

"They have had to go overseas for part of their training and the second stage is right now with the hands-on-training," she said. "They are observing this diploma course and will actually have to practice marking exams. They will both have to go overseas for the final part of their training to become trainers.

"This week Joan and Judith are not only doing the asthma diploma review day and exams but are holding an update day for past students to make sure everyone is kept up to date with all the changes with medications, treatments, etc.

They have been overwhelmed by the warmth and friendliness of everyone and they want to return. Although we shall not need them once Debbie and Leonette are fully trained as trainers for the Asthma Diploma Course we do indeed want them back."

The British nurses said this was their first time in Bermuda and they wished Nurse Boden wasn't quite so determined that they not return.

"We would like to come back," Nurse McAllister said. "The hospitality here is absolutely fantastic. Everyone is so friendly."

Open Airways plans to move on to their next big challenge, to help those with emphysema and other chronic airways diseases.

"There is another diploma for that so let's hope we'll be able to help many more people very soon," Nurse Boden said. "We also want them back to hold one-day essential skills workshops for allergy, smoking cessation and many other respiratory topics.

"We would like to thank the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, XL Foundation, the Bermuda End to End Walk, The Bermuda Health Alliance and all those individuals who have helped make these courses available here in Bermuda and have helped to change the lives of so many people with asthma and other respiratory problems."