HSE National Partnership Council holds inaugural meeting

27 July 2026

The HSE National Partnership Council held its inaugural meeting on 15 July 2026, bringing together 15 patient and service user representatives and eight HSE senior leaders.

The meeting marked an important milestone in embedding partnership across the HSE. Members shared a commitment to work together as partners and to strengthen the role of lived and living experience in the design, delivery and improvement of health and social care services in Ireland.

As the Council began developing its governance arrangements and agreeing the next steps for its 2026–27 work programme, members identified a number of shared priorities, including patient safety, quality improvement, reducing inequalities through inclusive service design, improving care coordination, and ensuring that lived and living experience informs decision-making at every level.

Addressing the Council, HSE CEO Anne O'Connor reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to partnership and thanked members for bringing their expertise and experience to the Council. She emphasised the importance of working collaboratively to improve health and social care services and said she looked forward to following the Council's work and meeting members again at the HSE Public and Patient Partnership Conference in Croke Park on 15 October.

The National Partnership Council will work alongside six Regional Partnership Councils to embed partnership across the organisation, supporting patients, service users, families, carers, advocates and staff to shape better services and improve outcomes for everyone.