The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, and HSE chief Prof Brendan Drumm have unveiled a new national strategy that will see patients, their families, and voluntary and community organisations become more involved in the health service.
The strategy identifies seven goals, including the development of a patients charter; listening to the input of children, young people and the socially excluded groups to identify their needs in accessing health services; and allowing patients to become more involved in their own health care, decisions and choices affecting their health.
Ms Harney said the role of the service user was central to government health policy. "While much good work has been done to build the voice of the service user into decisions in health care, we need to ensure that best practice in this area is disseminated to all parts of the health service," she said.
The strategy was produced by the Department of Health and the HSE in consultation with advocacy groups, the Health Information and Quality Authority and users of the health service.
Speaking at the launch, Prof Brendan Drumm said that involving the public could lead to greater understanding of local health issues and health needs. "Members of the public can bring great clarity, practicality and transparency to the development of truly patient centred services. They can act as a valuable reference point to ensure that the decisions and actions of clinicians and managers always put the needs of the people who use our services first," he said.
The success of the strategy will be evaluated annually.