Who we are

The Patient Advocacy Service has been commissioned by the Department of Health. An office in the Department of Health called the National Patient Safety Office published a tender in October 2018 to develop the new Patient Advocacy Service.

The Patient Advocacy Service has been commissioned by the Department of Health. An office in the Department of Health called the National Patient Safety Office published a tender in October 2018 to develop the new Patient Advocacy Service. 

An organisation called the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) was successful in this tender process and has developed the new Patient Advocacy Service. You can find out more about NAS, the NAS Board, Annual Reports etc. on the NAS website advocacy.ie 

In addition to the Patient Advocacy Service, NAS provides an independent, representative advocacy service to people with disabilities across a variety of issue areas. NAS was established by and is funded and supported in its advocacy for people with disabilities by the Citizens Information Board. 

NAS is a company registered with charitable status. NAS is a fully professional service across both its advocacy for people with disabilities and patient complaint advocacy. NAS is funded to provide advocacy for people with disabilities by the Citizens Information Board, and it is funded to provide patient complaint advocacy by the Department of Health. 

Our Mission Statement

The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) provides an independent, confidential, and free, issues-based representative advocacy service that works exclusively for the person with a disability using the service and adheres to the highest professional standards.

In addition, the organisation provides an independent, confidential and free Patient Advocacy Service that works to support and empower all patients in Public Acute Hospitals and Nursing homes through the (i) relevant Complaints Process and (ii) in the aftermath of Patient Safety Incidents.  While the primary culture of Patient Advocacy is empowerment advocacy, where this is not possible, representative advocacy may be provided where additional advocacy support is required to allow for the persons needs to be met.

Our Vision Statement

Our vision is to work towards a society that ensures the full participation of persons with disabilities. We recognise the capacity of persons with disabilities to make their own decisions equally with others, in accordance with United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

We recognise the right of all people to support, guidance and information when issues arise in relation to their care and treatment in Public Acute Hospitals and Nursing Homes which may lead to their wish to complain about their treatment or care or seek answers in the aftermath of a Patient Safety Incident.

If you need assistance making a complaint about an experience you had in a Public Acute Hospital or Nursing Home, check out our:

Public Acute Hospitals
This guide will help you with making a complaint.
Public Acute Hospitals
Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Nursing Homes
This guide will help you with making a complaint
Nursing Homes
This guide will help you with making a complaint.

Meet the management team who work for the Patient Advocacy Service

Georgina Cruise

National Manager

Georgina is the National Manager of the Patient Advocacy Service. She previously worked as Acting Service Manager and Advocacy Team Lead, having joined the Service in November 2019.

A graduate with an Advanced Diploma in Advocacy Practice Provision, a level 7 Certificate in Patient Safety Complaints Advocacy and an advanced diploma in Human Resources, Georgina has over 17 years’ experience of working in the area of citizens’ rights and entitlements with a particular interest in Advocacy and Social Policy.

Georgina has frontline experience of direct advocacy provision having previously worked with the Citizens Information Service for 12 years as an advocate and development manager.

Deirdre Burke

Corporate Services Manager

Deirdre Burke is a Corporate Services professional with over 20 years’ experience.  She joined the Patient Advocacy Service in July 2020 as Corporate Services Officer. In March 2023 Deirdre was promoted to Corporate Services Manager.

Deirdre previously worked with the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting quality improvement in health care, where she managed membership services, as well as responsibilities for governance, compliance, finance, and office management.

Deirdre has a bachelor’s degree and has continued with professional development by completing the QQ1 Level 6 in Effective People Management, Open Training College Certificate in Patient Safety and Complaints Advocacy and most recently Deirdre completed PRINCE2® (Projects IN a Controlled Environment) 6th Edition Foundation.

Christina Devine

Regional Manager

Christina is the Regional Manager with the Patient Advocacy Service. She has over 20 years’ experience working in the health and social care sector.

Christina has worked in Disability Service provision in various roles and most recently she was an area manager with a large organisation providing residential and day service supports to people with an Intellectual Disability. Prior to this, Christina spent 15 years with the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities where she worked as an Advocate and Senior Advocate.

A graduate with a BA in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, Christina also holds a Certificate in Patient Safety Complaints Advocacy, a Higher Certificate in Humanities in Advocacy Studies and a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies.

Roisin Mc Keon

Communications Officer

Roisin is the Communications Officer with the Patient Advocacy Service. She previously worked as an Advocate, having joined the Service in October 2019.

Roisin has extensive experience in Media & Communications, having spent over 14 years working in television, radio, online, local press and live events. Roisin has also worked & volunteered with several NGO’s.

A graduate with a B.A. in Irish & Politics, Roisin has also completed a Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Applied Communications with Irish, a Professional Diploma in Whistle-blower Law, Practice & Policy, a Certificate in Patient Safety Complaints Advocacy, a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health and a Master’s in Social Science (Rights & Social Policy).

Alexandria Collins

Advocacy Team Lead

Alexandria Collins joined the Patient Advocacy Service in January 2021 and is currently an Advocacy Team Lead.  Previously, she has over 20 years experience working in healthcare and held the post of Patient Advocacy Manager in an acute setting prior to joining PAS.

Alexandria was a facilitator for the HSE’s National Programme to Enhance Cultures of Person Centeredness.  This is a programme of transitional practice development that enables cultures of empowerment that foster continuous approaches to person centred care.  Alexandria has continued her professional development by completing a QQI level 7 Certificate in Patient Safety Complaints Advocacy.

A committed family person, Alexandria has a grown up daughter.  In her spare time, Alexandria enjoys hiking and is a member of a walking group.

Padraig Ruane

Advocacy Team Lead

Padraig is an Advocacy Team Lead with a national remit. He joined the Patient Advocacy Service in June 2021.

A graduate a BA in Social care, master’s in health care Practice, Post Grad in Leadership Development and certificate in Patient Safety Complaints Advocacy.

Prior to joining the Patient Advocacy Service, he worked in the area of advocacy for over six years, most recently as an Advocate with the National Advocacy Service (NAS).

Caitriona Carr

Advocacy Team Lead

Caitriona joined the Patient Advocacy Service in January 2023 as an Advocacy Team Lead.

Prior to joining the Patient Advocacy Service, Caitriona worked as a Claims Team Lead for a large international insurance company where she led a team of claims officers and handled claims-related complaints.

She is qualified as a Chartered Insurance Practitioner.

She is currently completing the certificate in Patient Safety Complaints Advocacy with the Open Training College.

Mary Jacob

Advocacy Team Lead

Mary joined the Patient Advocacy Service in January 2023 as an Advocacy Team Lead.

Before joining the Patient Advocacy Service, Mary worked in Eir for 8 years. Her experience includes quality management & training where she monitors calls from a quality perspective and developed training for any knowledge gaps identified.

As a Team Leader she managed a team, ensuring KPI’s were achieved as well as developing the team. She was heavily involved in the setting up of 2 greenfield sites 1 in Limerick and the other in Waterford.

Mary has a City & Guilds/ILM level 4 certificate in Leadership and Management

The Patient Advocacy Service is provided by the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS). NAS operates with four Regions across Ireland, led by 4 Regional Managers, and the overall management of a National Manager. View the NAS management team HERE.


 

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