UL Hospitals Group appeal for Limerick volunteers to strengthen the voice of patients

UL HOSPITALS Group (ULHG) are seeking new members in Limerick and across the wider Mid-West to help improve services by joining the Patient Council.

The Patient Council was established in 2016 and provides an independent voice for patients, service users and their families. It gives patients and members of the public the opportunity to become involved as active partners in ULHG and advise hospital management on improving patient experience.

The council is a partnership which brings together volunteers from the general public and senior hospital staff. It is currently looking to increase the number of public members and expressions of interest are sought from people who have had experience of UHL, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, Croom Orthopaedic Hospital or University Maternity Hospital Limerick.

"In recent years, the work of the council has resulted in or influenced a number of significant initiatives across our hospitals. These have included improvements in patient meals, internal road network safety and disabled parking, hospital signage and patient communications," a spokesperson for ULHG said.

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John Hannafin, chairman of the Patient Council, said that in the course of its ordinary work and through its engagement on a wide range of hospital committees the Patient Council was having a positive impact in improving services across the group.

“We are now looking forward to building on this work and strengthening the voice of patients through bolstering the membership of the council. We are appealing to members of the public who have had direct experience of HSE acute hospitals in this region - either as a patient or as a relative – to consider making an application to join the Patient Council. This work can make a difference,” Mr Hannafin said.

Declan McNamara, chief director of nursing and midwifery, ULHG, and vice-chair of the Patient Council, said: “We have various ways of gathering patient feedback, through surveys, through research and quality improvement projects, through the complaints process and by other means. In the shape of the Patient Council, we also have a formal structure that meets regularly and through which the voice of our service users and their loved ones is articulated and acted upon.”

Applicants will be invited for interview and successful candidates will have garda vetting and reference checks before being invited to join the Patient Council. The Patient Council will meet every six to eight weeks and we estimate that a time commitment of approximately two hours per month would be required.

If you are interested in becoming part of the ULHG Patient Council, please contact Allen Moran, or Liz Barry, patient advocacy liaison managers via email at uhlpals@hse.ie or call 061 727185 or 061 485259. Applications are open until December 22. For more information visit www.ulh.ie.