Working Life: My clients range from university students to quite a few in their 80s

Susan Mac Nicholas, HSE health promotion and improvement officer and Stop Smoking advisor

Fri, 25 Oct, 2024 - 02:00

Catherine Shanahan

6.30am

I start with breakfast and a quick tidy-up around the house. I bid my son Fionn and daughter Meg goodbye, and text my daughter Ciara, who lives in Sydney. I live in Trim, Co Meath, and work in Dublin, so I strive to beat the traffic with the help of Google Maps.

9am

I work as a Stop Smoking advisor at the HSE Dublin North City and County, and my clinics are based in Cabra and Glasnevin. My first task is to check e-mails, phone calls and texts from clients and set up for the day.

10am

Clinic starts. Clients of all ages and backgrounds who wish to stop smoking attend in-person and via phone appointments.

It’s a choice to stop for some while others may have been advised to quit due to medical advice or illness.

I have clients, ranging from university students to quite a few in their 80s.

Quitting can be difficult and I feel privileged to share the journey with clients and to hopefully make a difference.

Some clients disclose difficulties in their lives and may need additional support.

All Stop Smoking advisors are trained in brief interventions in behavioural change and often refer, with the client’s consent, to other services within the HSE, such as Social Prescribing, Healthy Food Made Easy, mental health supports or physical activity programmes.

We also link in with the client’s GP if appropriate.

1pm

A quick lunch and catch-up with colleagues. As I’m in different locations, it’s lovely to meet so many different staff.

1.30pm

Back to clinic contacting new clients and clients who’ve already quit. We provide 12 months of behavioural support and 12 weeks free combination nicotine replacement therapy for all who wish to quit tobacco.

5pm

Time to commute home.

6pm

I go to aqua aerobics or walk my dogs. We sit down to eat as a family and chat about our day. Then it’s TV time - I usually fall asleep on the couch, much to the annoyance of my young adult children.