I am delighted to be the first National Clinical Lead to sign the Compassionate Pledge in the Health Services Executive (HSE)” writes Dr. Ethel Ryan, National Clinical Lead, Clinical Directors Programme
This milestone marks a significant step forward in our journey towards transforming healthcare leadership in Ireland, focusing not only on clinical excellence but also on the fundamental values of compassion and empathy.
At the heart of our clinical leadership programmes, we have adopted compassionate leadership as the foundation. It serves as the guiding principle across all initiatives, supporting leaders in creating environments where care, respect, and emotional intelligence thrive. Compassionate leadership was a central theme of all three National Clinical Directors Conferences, which were held to support the vast and complex restructuring of the HSE from the centre to the new health region structures. These conferences provided a platform for discussions on new ways of working, compassionate leadership, and the development of compassionate cultures within our healthcare system.
The conferences were designed to be inclusive, open to both senior clinical and non-clinical leaders, providing a shared space for connection and conversation. This approach allows us to embrace and enhance new ways of integrated working, fostering collaboration across disciplines and across sectors. The discussions held during these sessions have already begun to shape the way we think about healthcare delivery in Ireland, moving beyond traditional models to focus on more holistic, compassionate approaches.
As the HSE lead in managing the Multidisciplinary Team Development Compassionate Leadership Programmes, Angela Hughes Clinical Director Programme Manager and I have had the privilege of supporting the delivery of nine such programmes aimed at facilitating the implementation of Sláintecare. These programmes focus on creating compassionate cultures in new ways of working, with modules designed to address the needs of self, service, and organisational culture. It is a comprehensive effort to embed compassionate leadership at every level of care and across all professional groups.
