The Health Service Executive (HSE) has recognised a standout innovation in the northwest, with the Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Service team earning a prestigious Bright Spark award. Announced in a gov.ie-style public service update, the project highlights how frontline healthcare staff can improve outcomes for people living with severe mental illness through smarter, more integrated care.
Published on 1 July 2026, the award-winning initiative focuses on closing the physical health gap often experienced by people receiving mental health services. By introducing a dedicated Physical Healthcare Screening Clinic within the Early Intervention in Psychosis service, the team created a practical model that strengthens prevention, early intervention and links with community support services.
Health Service Executive (HSE) Recognises Integrated Mental Health Innovation
The Bright Spark award was presented at the HSE Spark Summit, where projects from across Ireland are assessed for their ability to turn frontline insight into meaningful service improvement. In this case, the Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Service team addressed a longstanding issue: people with severe mental illness often experience poorer physical health outcomes and reduced access to preventive screening.
The new clinic model improved:
- physical healthcare screening rates
- early intervention opportunities
- clinical documentation standards
- integration with local community supports
- overall patient health outcomes
Importantly, the service achieved these gains using existing resources, making the initiative especially relevant for public health planning, Health policy teams and other state bodies focused on scalable reform.
Why the Award Matters for Mental Health Services in Ireland
This recognition is significant not only for the local team, but for wider public service delivery across Ireland. Agencies such as gov.ie, the Department of the Taoiseach, Social Protection, Education and Public Expenditure increasingly emphasise joined-up services, and this HSE project reflects that broader direction.
Dr Petra McLoughlin, Senior Psychiatry Registrar with HSE West and North West, said the award acknowledges a team committed to integrating physical and mental healthcare for service users. Her comments underline a growing national focus on person-centred care, where mental health services are not delivered in isolation from broader wellbeing needs.
Jared Gormley, Head of HSE Spark, also praised the project, noting that frontline workers are often best placed to identify challenges and design effective responses. That principle mirrors innovation strategies seen across Irish public bodies, from the Revenue Commissioners and Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to the National Transport Authority (NTA) and An Garda Síochána, where service improvements increasingly come from those working closest to the public.
What HSE Spark Does
HSE Spark supports frontline workers in transforming ideas into system-level change. The programme helps staff:
- identify practical service problems
- test innovative solutions
- keep patient experience central to design
- scale improvements across the health system
This approach aligns with wider government innovation goals seen across Health, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Justice, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and other major public service sectors.
FAQs About the Bright Spark Award and the Sligo Leitrim Project
What is the Bright Spark award?
It is an HSE recognition awarded to innovative healthcare projects that improve services through practical, frontline-led solutions.
What did the Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Service team create?
The team introduced a dedicated Physical Healthcare Screening Clinic as part of the Early Intervention in Psychosis service.
Who benefits from the initiative?
People with severe mental illness benefit through improved screening, better documentation, earlier intervention and stronger links to community supports.
Why is this relevant nationally?
The project offers a scalable example of integrated care that could inform other Health Service Executive (HSE) services and public health programmes across Ireland.
Conclusion
The Bright Spark award for the Sligo Leitrim team shows how the Health Service Executive (HSE) can deliver real progress when frontline professionals are empowered to innovate. For Ireland’s mental health system, the message is clear: integrated care that treats physical and mental wellbeing together can produce measurable benefits for patients and create a stronger, more responsive public health service.
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Article/Image Courtesy: HSE
