National Healthcare Charter

Click here to download the National Healthcare Charter in PDF format

The Department of Health together with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2008 committed to the development of a Health Service Charter.
The National Healthcare Charter, which is titled You and Your Health Service, has been developed with input from many interested parties, including patient advocacy groups and individual advocates, many of whom also assisted in the development of the National Strategy for Service User Involvement in the Irish Health Services 2008-2013.

It is part of a series of quality improvement initiatives designed to involve service users in influencing the quality of healthcare in Ireland. The HSE is actively inviting service users to get involved on patient forums and quality improvement initiatives and invites service users to contact the National Advocacy Unit, HSE to find out about how they can become involved in improving the quality of healthcare in Ireland (see pg 16 for further details).

You and Your Health Service - what is it?

You and Your Health Service is a Statement of Commitment by the HSE describing what service users can expect when using health services in Ireland, and what they can do to help Irish health services to deliver more effective and safe services. It is based on eight principles which underpin high quality, people-centred care. These principles have been identified through a review of national and international patient charters and through wide consultation with the Irish public.

It aims to inform and empower individuals, families and communities to actively look after their own health and to influence the quality of healthcare in Ireland.

You and Your Health Service - what does it do?

• It outlines supporting arrangements for a partnership of care between everyone involved in healthcare - patients/service users, families, carers and healthcare providers.
• It supports a healthcare culture that delivers health and social care services in a predictable, preventative, personal and participatory way.
• It recognises that there are different roles and responsibilities for both service users and healthcare providers.
• It promotes the importance of service users as individuals with diverse needs and not just a medical condition to be treated.
• It applies to all public health and social care services, including community care services and acute hospital services.