Patient and Service User Partnership

Do you want to help improve Health & Social Care Services in HSE West North West?

Your experience matters

If you or someone you care for has used health or social care services, you have valuable experience and ideas that can help improve them.

HSE West North West is creating new ways for patients, service users, carers and communities to work together with staff to share their lived experiences and improve services across Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and West Cavan.

There are three ways to get involved, depending on how much time you want to commit, what interests you and how you would like to take part:

1. Patients, Service Users and Carers Council
2. Patients, Service Users and Carers Panel
3. Patients, Service Users and Carers Mailing List

Choose how you would like to take part

1. Patients, Service Users and Carers Council

A leadership role influencing regional decisions

The Council is a group of approximately 20 people, comprising members of the public and HSE staff, who work closely with HSE senior managers to improve services across the region.

As a Council member, you will:

• Share your experiences and ideas to help improve services
• Advise regional health and social care staff
• Help identify what needs to improve and how to improve it
• Build on what is working well
• Take part in meetings and discussions to plan and act on group decisions

Commitment

Time:  Approximately 4–6 hours in a month
Meetings: Every 2 months
Role length: 2 years (with training and support provided)

This role suits people who want to:

• Contribute to improve services in collaboration with HSE staff (poster)
• Attend scheduled meetings (mostly online)
• Work at a strategic (big picture) level

2. Patients, Service Users and Carers Panel

Flexible involvement in projects and improvement work

The Panel is a larger group of people who are interested in getting involved in different health and social care activities and services across the region.

As a Panel member, you may:

• Join working groups or committees (these could be short, medium or long-term groups)
• Give feedback on plans, ideas, or services
• Take part in consultations, workshops or other activities requiring lived experience inputs
• Choose opportunities that match your interests and availability

Commitment

You can choose. You can take part as much or as little as you like.
When you join a working group a minimum level of involvement may be expected.

This role suits people who want to:

• Get involved in specific topics or projects in the area of health and social care services
• Contribute in a flexible way to improve services
• Build your confidence and experience of working together with other people to develop partnership practice.

3. Patients, Service Users and Carers Mailing List

Stay informed and take part when you wish to
You can also join a mailing list to:

• Receive updates about opportunities and news about what is happening and what patients, service users and carers are involved in
• Hear about events, trainings and ways to get involved
• Decide later if you would like to join the Panel or apply for the Council at the next recruitment

At a glance: what’s the difference?

These are a voluntary (unpaid) roles. We will repay approved costs including:

• Travel costs
• Meals

We will do our best to meet your accessibility needs.

Can I be involved in more than one way?

Yes.

• You can apply to join the Council
• You can choose to join the Panel and/or the Mailing List
• You can apply for the Council and join the Panel and/or Mailing List
• Some people may start on the Panel and/or Mailing List and apply for the Council in the future
• Council members may also take part in working groups as they choose

Who can apply?

You can get involved if you:

• Live in Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo Roscommon, Sligo and West Cavan
• Are over 18 years old
• Have experience of using health or social care services, or caring for someone who has.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and communities.

If you feel your voice, or your community’s voice, has not been heard in the past, this is your chance to get involved and make a difference.

Skills and qualities that help in the role

• Interested in improving health and social care services.
• Open to interacting with people who may have different views.
• Confident, or want to grow your confidence, in taking part in meetings by sharing your experience and ideas.
• Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Experienced in working with other people in a team.

You do not need any qualifications.

What happens next?

You can complete one form and choose to:

• Apply for the Council
• Join the Panel
• Join the Mailing List
• Or any combination of the above.

Applications for the Council will follow a selection process.

When you send your form in:

Council applications: receipt of applications will be acknowledged; you will receive details of what happens next once the campaign ends.

Panel applications: you will receive a welcome pack once the campaign ends.

Mailing List: you will receive a welcome pack once the campaign ends.

Contact for questions

If you have questions, need more information, or want assistance to fill the form in, please contact:
Name:          Mr Jacopo Villani
Role:            Regional Patient and Service User Lead, HSE West North West
Email:          partnership.westnorthwest@hse.ie  

Between 20 July and 3 August, please write to Siobhan.Canny@hse.ie

In a workshop in April 2026 with a mix of all sorts of people we produced the first HSE West North West Partnership Charter.

This is a starting point.

Your voices will influence the next version.