About the Programme

Welcome to this App on communication skills for healthcare conversations.

Good communication improves your performance because it results in more effective conversations between you, the people who use our services and your colleagues. Multiple studies have linked improved communication to better patient and staff experience and improved healthcare outcomes.

We in the National Healthcare Communication Programme, believe that all staff can be supported to improve their communication by discussing and practicing key communication skills involved in improving patient and staff encounters.

None of us are perfect communicators, but we can all improve. That improvement comes from a combination of knowledge, experience, feedback and perhaps above all – self-awareness. As you go through the modules and watch the videos and other materials, consider the skills and how they apply to your day to day work. Remember – that although good communication looks easy, it is a practiced art…developing and improving communication skills is a lifelong task, while some staff may have a naturally good approach to communication with people and their caregivers, all staff can improve core skills.

Professor Peter Gillen
Associate Professor of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Winifred Ryan
Leadership, Educational and Talent Management, Health Service Executive