I am a nurse and former lecturer that was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2015. I spent 29 years working in the HSE as Assistant Director of Nursing before retiring in August 2016. I lectured in nursing and my interests include human rights in healthcare, consent, promoting safer healthcare through patient involvement and respecting and promoting patient’s will and preferences in healthcare decision making. I have sat on the HIQA advisory group on ePrescribing, and been a patient representative on both the HSE consultation on electronic health records (EHR) and the challenge panel contributing to the development of the Health Information System Strategy at the Department of Health. In 2021 I sat on the HIQA advisory group that contributed to Public consultation: Draft recommendations on a consent model for the collection, use and sharing of health information in Ireland
I have been involved in activism on a variety of issues related to patient care but I have a specific interest in issues related to access to medicines raised by the current model of drug development and commercialisation and its impact on patients. I am a member of the volunteer group Access to Medicines Ireland where I have a keen interest on the impact of EU legislation on accessibility, availability and affordability of medicines in the EU. I have contributed to a number of EU Commission public consultations in relation to the current revision of the EU pharmaceutical legislation and have a specific interest in EU measures to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). I have worked with a number of civil society organisations across Europe on access to medicines to enhance effective activism and promote equitable access to effective medicines both across the EU and globally.
I am an animal lover, enjoy gardening, travel, music, history and cooking for family and friends