The Health Service Executive (HSE) has opened a new public call for people across HSE West and North West to help shape how healthcare services are planned and improved. In a move that reflects a wider gov.ie focus on inclusion, the HSE is asking patients, service users and carers to bring their lived experience directly into regional decision-making.
The initiative is designed to create structured ways for local communities to work alongside healthcare staff and senior leaders. Rather than simply collecting feedback, the HSE says it wants people affected by healthcare decisions to play a real role in identifying priorities, recommending improvements and helping design better services.
HSE West and North West opens new patient partnership roles
The new opportunities are aimed at people from all backgrounds across the region, including those who may previously have felt unheard. According to the HSE, no formal qualifications are needed. What matters most is first-hand experience of using health or social care services, or caring for a family member who does.
The HSE says support will be available for applicants who may face barriers to participation, an important step in making the process more inclusive and accessible. That approach aligns with broader public service goals seen across Citizens Information, HIQA and the wider Health sector.
- Panel: a wider group of patients, service users and carers who can contribute to different health and social care activities across the region
- Council: a smaller group that will work with senior leadership to guide priorities and regional planning
Regional Executive Officer Tony Canavan said lived experience should inform systems, governance and quality of care, adding that the process is about giving those impacted by decisions “a seat at the table.”
Why this HSE initiative matters for healthcare in Ireland
This HSE initiative reflects a growing recognition across Ireland that public services improve when users are directly involved. Similar partnership-driven thinking is increasingly visible across departments including Health, Social Protection, Education and Justice, as well as agencies such as the Revenue Commissioners and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), where user experience and accessibility have become key policy themes.
For healthcare in particular, involving patients and carers can help identify gaps in access, communication and service design that may not be obvious from inside the system. HSE West and North West says this partnership model is intended to make services better, fairer and more responsive to real community needs.
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Who should apply?
The invitation is open to:
- Patients with direct experience of HSE services
- Service users across health and social care
- Family members and unpaid carers
- People whose communities may not have been well represented before
Public contributor Donal Conway said the programme offers a meaningful chance for people and communities to have their voices heard and to influence how services are designed, delivered and maintained across the region.
How to apply for the HSE West and North West panel or council
Anyone interested can submit an expression of interest through the HSE online form. The application is expected to take around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and the closing date is 23 August 2026.
Applicants can also learn more about the partnership framework through the regional information page hosted by Saolta. The new structure is expected to help strengthen trust, accountability and shared learning between service users and healthcare leaders.
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Key details at a glance
- Organisation: Health Service Executive (HSE) West and North West
- Opportunities: Patients, Service Users and Carers Panel and Council
- Who can apply: patients, service users, carers and family members
- Qualifications required: none
- Application deadline: 23 August 2026
The key takeaway is simple: this HSE initiative gives people a direct route to influence healthcare planning in their region. For anyone who wants patient voices to matter more in Irish public services, HSE West and North West is now offering a practical way to get involved.
Article/Image Courtesy: about.hse.ie
