New Patient Council for UL Hospitals Group

Eleven members of the public have been appointed to the Patient Council for UL Hospitals Group.

Members of the new Patient Council were introduced to the UL Hospitals Group Board at the May Board Meeting. The Patient Council is a new initiative by the UL Hospitals Group to improve the care experience for patients, families and care givers. This process will give patients and the public the opportunity to become involved as active partners in UL Hospitals.

More than 40 volunteers expressed an interest and applied to become members of the Patient Council, from which the 11 members were selected after a detailed recruitment process. The members of the public selected for the Patient Council are: Judy Ryan and Myron Robinson from Tipperary; John Killowry and Loretta Hughes from Clare; Michael P Ryan, Dolores Dunne from Limerick County; and Joan Foley, Denis Ryan, Tom Callanan, John Hannafin and Damien Mulcahy from Limerick City.

UL Hospitals Group nominees to the Patient Council are: Margaret Gleeson, Chief Director of Nursing and Chair of the Patient Council; Miriam McCarthy, Patient Advocacy Liaison Services; Catherine Hand, Patient Advocacy Liaison Services; Elaine Connolly, Communications Manager; Brian McKeon, Planning, Performance and Business Information Manager; and Dr Mary Gray, member of UL Hospitals Group Interim Board.

Margaret Gleeson, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the Hospital Group commented, “We were very pleased with the response from the public. The Patient Council will provide a strong independent voice for patients, service users and their families. We are looking forward to working with the Council in the coming months to establish objectives for the team and identify key projects where the team can contribute and represent the patient’s voice.”

The UL Hospital Group comprises, University Hospital Limerick, Nenagh Hospital, Ennis Hospital, Croom Hospital, University Maternity Hospital Limerick and St John’s Hospital (voluntary).