The HSE Spark Summit 2025 took place on 11th June. This unique event celebrates the ingenuity of those at the forefront of healthcare delivery, highlighting how creativity and collaboration are driving meaningful change across the system.
The Summit plays host to the Bright Spark National Innovation Awards, which recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of frontline healthcare teams who have implemented innovative projects that enhance patient care and service delivery across Ireland. These awards honour the dedication and creativity of healthcare professionals who are making a tangible impact on the healthcare system. We are proud to announce that HSE Dublin and Midlands had five truly deserved award winners this year.
Here’s a closer look at HSE Dublin and Midlands winning innovations:
Linda Keogh – CEO Choice Innovation Award – Best Patient Access: Community Setting
“The SitWell Pathway” revolutionised tailored seating for children with complex needs, cutting wait times from 6–12 months to just 8–10 weeks and drastically reducing travel and financial burdens for families in rural areas.
Linda Keogh and Team, Dublin Midlands
Dr. Laura Piggott – CEO Choice Innovation Award – Best Patient Access: Hospital Setting
Developed a Virtual OSA Identifier Pathway using digital tools to dramatically cut diagnosis time for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea from three years to just 3.5 months, improving patient outcomes and care efficiency.
Dr Laura Piggott with CEO Bernard Gloster, Sec General Robert Watt and Caitriona Heffernan Clinical Lead
Dr. Aileen McCabe – Best MDT Award
Led a cross-disciplinary initiative to tackle acute urinary retention in older men at Tallaght University Hospital. This ambulatory care pathway streamlined treatment, reduced ED pressure, and empowered patients with better support and education.
Dr Aileen McCabe and Team Tallaght with Dr Eve Stanley
CHO8 Children’s Services Project Team – Best Design-Led Project
Used Human-Centred Design to reimagine children’s services across mental health, disability, and primary care—creating tools like a unified referral process and neuro-affirmative autism assessment pathway that improved communication, access, and experience.
Niamh Clarke and Carole Broadbank, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Midlands
Edel Carey – Best Leadership Award
Transformed dementia care through co-designed, community-based pathways at Cherry Orchard Hospital, delivering person-centred support across clinics, home visits, crisis services, and virtual care. Her work has saved over €860,000 and enhanced lives across the board.
Edel Carey Team with Eileen Whelan, Regional Director of Nursing & Midwifery
Mairead McNally - Best Doctor-Led Project
Development of a Single Visit Clinic for Assessment and Management of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease. Mairead McNally, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore
Avril Gannon - Best Poster
Digitally Enabled Integrated Care: COPD Admission Avoidance Programme - using telehealth and remote monitoring to prevent hospital admissions in COPD patients in Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. Avril Gannon, cANP Respiratory; Dr Chithra Varghese, Respiratory Consultant; Claire Connor, Senior Physiotherapist COPD Outreach MRHT.
These individuals and teams exemplify innovation in action. Congratulations to all our winners – your dedication continues to make a lasting impact across our health service.
We would like to thank the Department of Health, the Chief Nursing Officer and the National Telehealth Team for the ‘Seedling Telehealth’ funding that supported the implementation of telehealth projects by the Regional Director of Nursing & Midwifery and the Nursing & Midwifery Information Officer, HSE Dublin and Midlands.
