Working Life: Dr Jose Ayala, HSE health promotion and improvement officer

Dr Jose Ayala, HSE health promotion and improvement officer

7.30am

Breakfast with my wife is porridge with chia seeds, sliced apple, and coffee. My daughters have their breakfast too, then we walk to senior infants and Montessori.

8.15am

My 30-minute cycle commute to the Meath Primary Care Centre is usually enjoyable. Cycling is cheap, predictable (time-wise), zero-emission and has numerous health benefits. It’s great for your brain, heart and blood vessels and helps improve mental wellbeing.

9am

A huge part of my work in health promotion is around tobacco and smoking cessation. Today is a ‘quit-smoking’ clinic day where I meet with people seeking supports for quitting. After checking emails and messages, I prepare to see my first clients.

10am

The first person I see has been referred to my clinic by her GP. She has a history of emphysema and has smoked for years.

We discuss her current patterns, motivations, and challenges. I measure her carbon monoxide level and we chat through and agree on the next steps of her quit plan: Change routines and use a nicotine patch plus gum.

Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do to improve your health. With medication and support, you are four times more likely to quit.

1pm

I have a quick lunch and a chat with colleagues in the kitchen.

3pm

I meet two more clients accessing smoking cessation support. I also join a regional conference call about Making Every Contact Count, a HSE programme I’m involved in that aims to up-skill staff in making brief, effective lifestyle behaviour change interventions.

5.45pm

I arrive home. It would be nice to decompress, but my second shift has just begun. Within minutes I’m summoned to settle disputes between our daughters.

6pm

We have dinner, made by my amazing wife, and share our day’s news. Afterwards, I’m in charge of bath time, tooth-brushing and lights out for the girls.

7pm

I cycle to the tennis club and play doubles with friends, or stay in relaxing and watching TV with my wife. I try not to snack or drink anything other than water past 8 pm.

Freephone 1800 201 203 to talk to the QUIT Team or to visit quit.ie