The forum comprises of individual patient advocates, family members, carers and supporters, as well as representatives of patient organisations, disability organisations, advocacy groups, and other special interest groups.
Members of the forum meet every 4 to 6 weeks, frequently online but occasionally in person, to discuss issues which are of collective importance to the patient and service user community.
The forum can request updates from HSE teams; provide a patient and service user perspective on specific programmes, processes and policies; as well as suggest opportunities for where the HSE might partner with patients and service users.
Issues addressed by the forum include plans for patient and service user engagement, integrated care, digital health, and health regions. Members of the forum participate in co-design working groups, project oversight panels, programme advisory committees, and board sub-committees.
You will find more details in the HSE National Patients’ Forum document: Our vision for patient partnership across our HSE (PDF, size 1.2 MB, 18 pages).
The forum welcomes new members. For more information, please email the HSE Patient and Service User Engagement Office at patient.partnership@hse.ie.
The following organisations formed the NPF in 2015:
- Disability Federation of Ireland Patients for Patient Safety Ireland Federation of Voluntary Bodies Diabetes Ireland
- Irish Heart Foundation Alzheimer Society of Ireland Age Action
- Irish Cancer Society
- National Women's Council Chime
- Asthma Society of Ireland
- Irish Platform for Patients' Organisations (IPPOSI)
- Family Carers Ireland
- Sage Advocacy
- MS Society Ireland ACT for Meningitis Ability West
- iCAN
- Marfan Syndrome Support Group
- Alpha 1
- Feileacain
- 22q11
- COPD Ireland Amputee Ireland
- Jack and Jill Foundation
The forum also includes many individual advocates, family members, carers and supporters from across the patient and service user community. Each of whom contributes their significant lived experience and knowledge of the health service to the work of the forum.
Partnerships are the future
As patient partners we believe that the HSE is ‘our HSE’, and that we all have a responsibility to work together to build a responsive, resilient, and respected health service.
Part 8 of The Health Act 2004 underlines the importance of 'public representation and user participation' and it describes a range of mechanisms which can be established to support the work of the Department of Health (DoH) and the HSE.
As patients and service users, we stand ready to breathe new life into the implementation of this legislation, and to grow, support and sustain partnerships with health managers and health and social care professionals across the HSE, nationally and regionally.
We want to see patient and service user perspectives inform how we design and improve care, how we develop and implement policy, and how we govern and assess performance across our health service.
What is partnership?
By focusing our energy and resources on creating equal, meaningful and sustainable partnerships, we will build a health service WITH patients and service users which delivers FOR patients and service users.
The HSE Change Guide 'People’s Needs Defining Change’; the HSE Patient and Public Partnership Strategy 2019-2023; and the HSE Patient Engagement Roadmap all acknowledge partnership as high on the participation ladder.
What is "good" partnership?
Partnership treats all partners equally. The patient or service user partner has access to the same information as other partners so there is a level playing field when it comes to knowledge. The partner has equal voting rights and their input is given equal consideration alongside other expert voices. Partnerships reflect the diversity of individuals using our health service, and removes any barriers to participation.
Partnership is a meaningful and positive experience for both the patient and the health service. The patient or service user partner is involved from the earliest stages, in identifying the problem and in defining the parameters of the future partnership. The partner is involved in developing the principles or values of the partnership; in co-creating the direction of travel and the preferred destination; and in setting and evaluating measures of progress and outcomes.
Transparent
Partnerships are transparent and it is clear why partnerships have been built, with whom, and how. The patient or service user partner has the opportunity to express their interest in joining a partnership and they are able to speak about their involvement in a partnership with their broader community. In this way, partnerships are more representative, more democratic, and more inclusive.
Why do we need partnership?
Quality
Partnerships stretch us beyond our 'comfort zone'. They require us to 'lean in' and to 'think outside the box'. This helps us to be creative, to be brave, to push for better. Patients and service users can be partners in identifying and implementing quality improvement solutions.
Safety
Partnerships force a range of issues to the surface. They require us to create a 'safe space' for 'constructive criticism'. This helps us to acknowledge our shortcomings, to review good practice, and to change our processes. Patients and service users can be partners in identifying and implementing safety solutions.
Autonomy
Partnerships give people a stake in decision-making. They requires us to 'take ownership' of an outcome. This helps us to engage in self-management and to become advocates for ourselves and for others. Patients and service users can be partners in improving their own care and in improving the health system which delivers their care.
Satisfaction
Partnerships generate higher levels of trust and confidence. They require us to 'see the other side' and to empathise with others. This helps us to understand what is achievable within the short, medium and longer-term. Patients and service users can be partners in assessing public needs and expectations.
Who should create partnerships?
Working in partnership with patients
Across the health sector in Ireland, we seek invitations to partner from the Department of Health, the HSE Senior Management, the HSE National Programmes, the HSE Hospital Groups, the Community Health Areas, the Regional Health areas, the GPs, and the research and innovation community.
