Have your say on healthcare services across Cork and Kerry

As part of its ongoing commitment to working in partnership with the public, HSE South West is setting up new patient and service-user partnership groups.

Applications are now open for the HSE South West Patient and Service-User Partnership Council.

In addition, HSE South West is setting up a Patient and Service-User Partnership Panel and a Patient and Service-User Partnership Mailing List. The closing date for applications for the groups is 5pm on 26 May.

Jimmy Burke, HSE South West Regional Patient and Service-User Lead said: “This is an exciting time for partnership in Cork and Kerry. Partnership is about patients, service-users and staff learning from each other to improve people’s health and the results of care. These new partnership groups give patients and service users a clear way to use their lived experience to improve our services.

“We welcome applications from anyone living in Cork or Kerry, over the age of 18. You need to have experience of using health or social care services. You might be a patient, service user, carer, or work with a voluntary organisation that provides health or social care. We are excited to work with you on shaping the future of local hospital and community services.”

The Patient and Service User Partnership Council will bring patients, service users, carers, and HSE staff together as one team, working to improve health services across Cork and Kerry.

The council will advise the regional healthcare management team and make sure the views and experiences of people who use services help shape and improve those services. The council gives patients and service-users a clear way to share what matters to them and this feedback helps to plan, prioritise and improve our services.

The Patient and Service-User Partnership Panel is for people who want updates about partnership roles and who may apply to join a working group, advisory panel, or committee in HSE South West.

The Patient and Service-User Partnership Mailing List is a group for people who want partnership news, event invites, and training information.

You can apply for the council and join the panel and mailing list by using our online form at hse.ie/patientcouncil, or by emailing partnership.southwest@hse.ie to request an application form.