HSE Dublin and South East and AsIAm work together to improve healthcare accessibility for Autistic people

HSE Dublin and South East, in partnership with AsIAm, has brought Autistic service users and healthcare staff together to identify practical ways to make health services more accessible and inclusive for Autistic people.

The Stakeholder Workshop on Autism Healthcare Accessibility, held in the Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow, on 29 September, brought together Autistic people who use hospital and community healthcare services in Dublin South and Wicklow, along with HSE clinicians, managers and staff.

The workshop was facilitated by the HSE Dublin and South East Regional Patient and Service User Engagement Office in collaboration with AsIAm. Participants shared their experiences and explored changes that could make accessing healthcare easier and improve the experience of Autistic people using health services. The workshop also identified priority outcomes that healthcare services and service-user partners can work towards together.

The workshop forms part of a regional pilot involving four community and acute services in Dublin South and Wicklow, including Wicklow Children's Disability Network Team, Arklow Dental Primary Care Service, St. Colmcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown and Arklow Community Mental Health.

Lorna Kerin (Regional Patient and Service User Engagement Lead, HSE Dublin and South East), noted the workshop demonstrated the importance of partnership between people who use health services and the staff who plan and deliver them:

“It was encouraging to see the openness, energy and shared commitment to making our health services more accessible and inclusive for neurodivergent people. In a busy health service, meaningful partnership requires clinical leadership and a willingness to listen to and act on the insights of people who use our services. This workshop demonstrated the value of bringing service users and staff together to learn from each other and identify practical opportunities for improvement.”

Speaking at the event, Fiona Ferris, Deputy CEO of AsIAm, said:

“Healthcare is something everyone should be able to access with confidence. However, for many Autistic people, factors such as sensory environments and communication styles can make a real difference to their experience. Understanding these needs is key to making sure care works well for everyone.”

“That is why this engagement is so valuable. Bringing Autistic service users directly into conversation with the HSE means that the Autism Healthcare Accessibility Programme is shaped by lived experience from the outset.”

“AsIAm is proud to partner with the HSE on this work. Together, we share a commitment to ensuring Autistic people can access healthcare with dignity and confidence. This workshop is a meaningful step in that shared journey.”

Aisling Heffernan, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Dublin South/Wicklow, HSE Dublin and South East, said:

“We are pleased to sponsor this three year pilot project involving four different services across our Integrated Healthcare Area, and to work with AsIAm as our patient advocacy partner. The learning and outcomes from this workshop will inform the work of our community and acute services as they identify practical ways to improve access and experiences for Autistic people across Dublin South and Wicklow.”