Our Patient Champion Programme provides the training, support, resources and know-how to make a difference and help shape a better future for heart and stroke patients in Ireland.
Launched in March 2023, the 皇冠体育接口 Patient Champions programme was developed by the 皇冠体育接口 to help train and support heart and stroke patients across Ireland on the most effective ways to make real and positive change happen. The programme is free of charge and delivered online and is accessible to patients with a heart or stroke diagnosis throughout Ireland.
Patients who take part in the programme will receive comprehensive training in a number of relevant areas including:
The programme was developed by Pauline O鈥橲hea, heart failure patient, long-time patient advocate and Advocacy Campaign Manager at the 皇冠体育接口.
鈥淭he 皇冠体育接口鈥檚 Patient Champion鈥檚 programme is a demonstration of the 皇冠体育接口 Investing in their heart and stroke patients, and supporting them, in the area of self 鈥� advocacy."
鈥淎s a cardiac patient myself, I know that the patient journey is often a tough one, but the loneliness and energy required to fight for patient issues alone makes that journey tougher.
That鈥檚 why the 皇冠体育接口 developed this free, online, professional advocacy programme for heart and stroke patients nationwide, delivered in a way that allowed patient advocates from all over the country a chance to connect and support each other along the way, so as to make the patient advocacy journey a better one.
Now with the graduation of the first group of 皇冠体育接口 Patient Champions, we see not only great advocates for the heart and stroke community emerge, but a heart and stroke patient advocacy group who have a connection with each other and the organisation that is supportive and strong.
As one Patient Champion graduate recently described it, patient鈥檚 no longer want their involvement in advocacy to be represented by occasions of being 鈥榳heeled out鈥� to speak and then being expected to leave the room while everyone else makes the decisions. They want to feel empowered, appreciated, supported and treated as equals in the room, and in partnership with patient organisations and healthcare decision makers, and that is what the 皇冠体育接口鈥檚 Patient Champion programme is aiming to deliver!鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 here for those stroke patients now, to support them. It鈥檚 so beneficial to me to get official training on how to use my experience to make a difference. I was often 鈥榳heeled out鈥� to tell my story, but now I feel I have the training to give impact.鈥�
If you are interested in learning more about the 皇冠体育接口鈥檚 Patient Champion鈥檚 programme, please call Pauline on 087 3810726 or email ihfvolunteer@irishheart.ie
