Working life: Declan Bowler, consultant

6.30am

My wife Esther oversees breakfast and I drop Ben to school en route to work.

I cycled to my previous job at the Mater, but I haven’t worked out the most appropriate, safest route to the Bons yet.

I enjoy cycling — it’s low impact and good exercise.

8am

Some mornings begin with an Acute Sports Injury Clinic, which caters for people who injured themselves doing exercise or playing sport and need rapid access to assessment and treatment.

The huge level of participation in field sports in Cork, particularly GAA, rugby and soccer, means I see plenty of injuries.

Knee injuries are the most common — often the result of quick turns or landing awkwardly after jumping for the ball.

10am

Monday mornings are particularly busy at the clinic following weekend sport. I get calls from GPs and physiotherapists asking if I can slot patients in — ideally within 24 hours.

Some need surgical intervention — 95% of what I do is arthroscopic or keyhole surgery.

My interest in sports medicine led to a relationship with Cork City Football Club.

I see players as needed and have conducted medical assessments of players the club is considering signing.

12 noon

In addition to the Acute Sports Injury Clinic, I run other clinics where I see people with chronic injuries.

We discuss their options — not all need surgery, physiotherapy may often suffice.

If it doesn’t work, there is still the option of surgery, although I don’t do joint replacements.

2pm

I spend one or two days a week in theatre and during the day I make time to see my post-op day cases.

I bring my laptop and show them videos of the procedure so they know exactly what was done.

It gives them great insight into their own joints and injuries. After that, I return to theatre for the rest of the afternoon.

6pm

I do a ward round to check up on in-patients before going home to have dinner with my family.

Esther is great at ensuring we are all around the table together.

My weekends are mostly my own, one weekend of call a month at the Bons, some calls for results or appointments, so I pitch in with chauffeuring the kids to various sporting activities.

Declan Bowler, consultant orthopaedic and sports surgeon, Bon Secours Hospital, Cork.