Working life: Dr Nina Byrnes, GP and presenter, Doctor in the House, TV3

6am

My husband looks after the three kids in the morning while I get myself on the road and into surgery for 7.45am.

8am

I’m in our Castleknock surgery this morning but I also work out of a second practice in Glenageary.

This time of year, we’re busy with the under sixes, lots of respiratory infections, colds and flus.

Attendances are up in this age cohort since the introduction of free GP care — I think parents are quicker to bring the kids in whereas before they might have waited a day or two.

10am

I see a steady stream of patients throughout the morning. It’s a testing time of year for the elderly too, respiratory infections are rampant and the damp weather hasn’t helped.

1pm

I break for lunch and paperwork. I spend the next two hours catching up on phonecalls, following up on test results and having a bite to eat.

Currently I’m working with GloHealth on the launch of GloDoc, a 24/7 GP service accessible by phone and videocall, so I spend some time working on this.

From a GP’s perspective, it’s a great service, available to consumers on a number of GloHealth plans.

As a first port of call the service offers reassurance and comfort to patients, as well as practical medical advice.

The service can also provide patients with prescriptions when necessary, faxed through to their local pharmacist, saving on a costly visit to the doctor.

3pm

The surgery re-opens and a new patient comes in. They have seen me on Doctor in the House and have come in for lifestyle advice.

The programme aims to get households across Ireland thinking about their way of life and I tend to attract patients interested in lifestyle change.

I am particularly interested in cardiovascular, women’s and preventative health.

6pm

I complete some paperwork when the surgery closes. I work in general practice four days a week and I spend one day dealing with media commitments.

8.30pm

When I get home, the older kids are still up. We catch-up on our day, and watch a bit of TV.

At the weekend I like to get out and about for a bit of fresh air.

* Dr Nina Byrnes, GP, Castleknock and presenter, Doctor in the House, TV3.