A new forum has been created where patients, service users, carers and HSE staff can work together as one team, to help shape health services across Cork and Kerry.
This follows HSE South West’s recent launch in Macroom of its Regional Patient and Service User Partnership Council. The council will advise the regional healthcare management team using lived experience and provides members with an opportunity to build relationships and establish a shared vision of how they can work together to strengthen regional health and social care services.
The launch brought council members together to the west Cork town, to meet each other and develop a shared understanding of the role of the Council. Jimmy Burke, Regional Patient and Service User Lead, HSE South West, facilitated the launch, which demonstrates a clear commitment to using the voice of patients and service users to help inform healthcare decisions and improvements across Cork and Kerry.
“Lived experience will help shape services, guide planning and influence decision-making. By focusing on what matters most to people, and working together towards the shared vision of Sláintecare, we can help create a health service that delivers the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” Dr Andy Phillips, Regional Executive Officer, HSE South West said.
Following a public recruitment campaign, 23 patient and service user partners were selected to join the Partnership Council, representing the three integrated healthcare areas in HSE South West: Cork North and East; Cork South and West and Kerry.
The first meeting of the HSE South West Patient and Service User Partnership Council will take place later in September 2026.
