Working Life: Anyone who needs an urgent scope is prioritised

Dr Cara Dunne, consultant gastroenterologist, St James’s Hospital and CHI Crumlin

Dr Cara Dunne, consultant gastroenterologist at St James's Hospital and the CHI Crumlin. Photograph: Moya Nolan

6am

Normal rising time, unless our cat Puca decides otherwise. Breakfast is porridge and orange juice before catching the Dart from Sandymount to Tara Street, and onwards, via bus, to St James’s Hospital. I work across two sites, St James’s where I treat adult patients, and Crumlin, where I look after young adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). I have great support from great teams on both sites.

7.30am

I start with paperwork and triage referrals for endoscopy. Anyone who needs an urgent scope is prioritised. We have outpatients and inpatients with issues such as a peptic ulcer bleed over the weekend or a choking episode that warrants a gastroscopy. I score them according to urgency.

8am

If I’m on a general service ward, I do a ward round before starting on the scope list in our busy endoscopy unit. Some of our referrals come from ICU.

Lunchtime

Complex IBD cases are discussed at our multidisciplinary team meeting.

Before my afternoon clinic, I chat with my IBD nurse colleagues about the hospital’s plans for World IBD Day on May 19. Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland is hosting a major conference in the Kingsley Hotel in Cork on the day. It devised a workbook for kids with IBD called ‘Me and IBD’ and donated about 100 copies to Crumlin. It’s a terrific resource.

2pm

I head to Crumlin where I meet with adolescents transitioning to the adult IBD service. They start learning about the process from age 11, and transition at age 16. They learn about self-advocacy and self-management. It’s a privilege to be involved.

5pm

More paperwork, either back at St James’s or remotely, from Crumlin.

5.30pm

The Irish Society of Gastroenterology is preparing for its biannual meeting in Cork, so I meet with our registrars, who are submitting papers before heading home.

Gardening is my main passion, but I do pilates too as stretching is great for my back, which can get sore from scoping. I also enjoy dance class.

• Marking World IBD Day, and celebrating 40 years since its foundation, Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland is hosting a conference for people with IBD in Cork city on Sunday, May 19. To register to attend in person or via the live stream, see crohnscolitis.ie