Launch of the Saolta University Health Care Group Patient and Public Engagement Strategy 2020-2023

The Saolta University Health Care Group today (December 14, 2020) published the first group-wide Patient and Public Engagement Strategy 2020-2023. This Strategy builds on work which has taken place over the last number of years in each of the Saolta Group hospitals, to improve and embed positive patient and public engagement.

The Strategy is based around three key themes that emerged during the consultation process undertaken to develop it. These are: Communications; Working with others; and Working in partnership with patients, families and carers. There are projects identified to bring these themes to life over the next three years. Some of the initiatives already underway include the rollout of the national communications programme for clinical teams and optimising the use of technology and eHealth initiatives to enhance patient communication.

Commenting Tony Canavan Saolta Group CEO said, “The Saolta Group is committed to further developing a culture of strong engagement with our patients and our communities. We know that listening and learning from our patients’ experience enables us to deliver better care .and improves health outcomes.”

Paul Hooton, Saolta Group Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery added, “We know our patients and their carers want to be engaged in decisions about their health, and those who are more engaged generally experience better outcomes. Over the next three years through the implementation of this Strategy our intention is to build on work already underway. This will include ensuring patients are involved in decisions about their own care and seeking patient feedback about their experiences. This work will be led by the Directors of Nursing on each of our hospital sites and I look forward to supporting them.”

Jean Kelly, former Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Saolta Group who led on the development of the Strategy said,” The importance of patients taking an active role in managing their own health is crucial as our population is living longer often with multiple chronic diseases. A key focus of Sláintecare is keeping people well in their own homes and shifting the focus of care to the community. Key to that is the development of active partnerships between patients, their health providers and the wider community.”

Copies of the Patient and Public Engagement Strategy 2020-2023 are available to download here

Caption:
Jean Kelly, former Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Saolta Group; Marie Corbett, Assistant Director of Nursing, Saolta Group; Olive Gallagher Director of Nursing, Cancer Managed Clinical and Academic Network and Paul Hooton, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the Saolta Group.