Ireland is diverse, but are our hospitals inclusive? That is the question a project at the University of Galway called ‘No Data About Us Without Us’ is seeking to investigate. As part of the project, researchers are keen to have insights from adults with epilepsy about their experiences of public hospitals.
In-patient stays at our public hospitals can unfortunately be a regular occurrence for many people with epilepsy given the nature of their condition and despite being in a healthcare setting, misconceptions and misunderstandings about the condition can still exist.
This study from the University of Galway wants to learn more about the public hospital experiences of members of the epilepsy community and marginalised communities – who may experience challenges or discrimination due to their long-term health condition and/or other factors such as ethnicity, religion, sex etc.
To take part in the study, you must be over 18 and have stayed in a public hospital for over 24 hours within the last three years. There are also several ways you can elect to share you experiences with the research team at University of Galway – including via a focus group or as a one-to-one interview with the research team.
By sharing your experience, you can help shine a light on inequalities in Ireland’s public hospitals and guide efforts to make healthcare more inclusive, respectful, and fair for everyone. If you are interested in potentially assisting with this research, you can fill out the expression of interest form on the University of Galway website via the button below:
Express your interest in taking part
Thank you in advance for assisting with this research and as always, should you need any information or support on your journey with epilepsy, please do not hesitate to contact your local Community Resource Officer. You can find their details by visiting the ‘Our Local Service’ page on our website.