My Working Day: Greg Halford, prosthetist and orthotist, aims to empower those who are newly amputated with education and reassurance
When I tell people what I do for living, many get the impression that it is difficult or depressing work.
It's neither of those things really. I became interested in the work because I am good with people and good with my hands, and wanted to work in an area where I could mix the two.
I did my training in La Trobe University in Melbourne, graduating in 2001.
My typical day starts at 8.30am. Before meeting clients I organise paperwork, which can take quite a while.
The Irish medical system seems to involve a lot more paperwork than anywhere else in the world I have worked.
Once that is finished, I spend time in the physical making of components, or taking a plaster cast of a person's body part and modifying it so that technicians can work on it after.
From about 10am onwards my time is spent seeing clients.
I see the full range of patients, including those who have just had amputations.
When you are dealing with someone newly amputated, a lot of the work is about educating that person. It is important they are empowered about the process ahead of them and have agency over the decision-making.
Many are anxious about the level of functioning they will be able to return to, and other people's impressions of them.
My job is to give them things to be less worried about and reassure them that they will be able to walk again or function well.
We try to keep the tone and mood light-hearted. Like any place of work it could be depressing if we let it, but it's amazing how much of an impact you can have on someone by staying positive.
With a client, typically you may have a close relationship for many years because their prosthetics are constantly in need of adjustment.
Things start to wear away or parts need replacing or the shape of the stump can change. As the readjustment process and education is continuous, we try to maintain a positive conversation about how life is going.
Our work has been helped enormously in recent years by advances in technology - there has been so much good work in the areas of functionality and comfort especially.
Part of my duties here also involves managing staff, but a normal working day usually finishes at 5.30pm.
Every day we have a variety of challenges to deal with, but it's all about keeping a positive attitude to life. When we do it's incredible how much better a client fares out.
• In conversation with Brian O'Connell