Call for Volunteers to join Voices4Care
A unique opportunity for citizens to shape the future of palliative care is being offered by All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC).
AIIHPC is looking for new volunteers to join Voices4Care, a forum of people with palliative care needs, their carers and citizens interested in improving palliative care across the island of Ireland.
Palliative care focusses on helping a person with a life-limiting illness to achieve the best quality of life as their illness progresses.
Set up in 2013, Voices4Care members have opportunities to shape palliative care education, research, policy and practice.
John Joyce, who is receiving palliative care, said his involvement in Voices4Care means he is able to be involved in the future of palliative care. John, from Foxford, County Mayo, said:
“By being a member of Voices4Care I have been able to talk directly to health care providers and to people interested in palliative care research. Recently I had an opportunity to be among the speakers at a major palliative care research event held by All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care. I got to speak to professionals not only from Ireland but from all over the world. I am able to bring a down to earth reality to the research agenda by being able to talk about my own lived experience of palliative care. I have really valued the opportunity to be a member of Voices4Care and would encourage anyone interested to think about joining.”
Brendan O’Hara, AIIHPC Programme Manager, said,
“We would like to hear from people with palliative care needs, their carers, and citizens who want to be part of something that can make a real difference in palliative care. AIIHPC has 26 partners including a range of hospices, health and social care organisations and universities on the island of Ireland. Voices4Care members have meaningful opportunities to influence and shape palliative care through participation in service user/carer groups and consultation processes. The service user and carer voice is informing and influencing palliative care development in the Republic of Ireland through involvement in the National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care. Members are involved in the palliative care programme in Northern Ireland, Palliative Care in Partnership, as the service user and carer group in this structure.”
Further information about joining Voices4Care is available at www.aiihpc.org. People interested in getting involved are asked to get in touch with AIIHPC and to complete an expression of interest form by Thursday, 28 February. To find out more contact Brendan O’Hara at bohara@aiihpc.org or call 00353 (0) 1 491 2948.
ENDS
For media enquiries or to request an interview please contact Aileen Gaskin 00353 87 7724 717 or aileen@cclinic.ie