World Patient Safety Day was established in 2019 by the Seventy-second World Health Assembly, to be observed annually on 17 September with the objective of increasing public awareness and engagement and enhancing global understand and action to improve patient safety.
The theme for this year is 'Safe care for every newborn and every child' as the World Health Organisation calls for action to eliminate avoidable harm in paediatric and newborn care.
Objectives of World Patient Safety Day 2025:
- Raise global awareness of safety risks in paediatric and newborn care in all health care settings, emphasizing the specific needs of children, families and caregivers.
- Mobilize governments, health care organizations, professional bodies and civil society to implement sustainable strategies, for safer care for newborns and children as part of broader patient safety and quality initiatives.
- Empower parents, caregivers and children in patient safety by promoting education, awareness and active participation in care.
- Advocate for strengthening research on patient safety in paediatric and newborn care.
Announcing World Patient Safety Day 2025 – Patient safety from the start! www.who.int accessed 8.8.25
Read more: Campaign materials and key messages
Calls to Action and Key Messages for Health practitioners:
Deliver care that’s safe and child-centred.
- Tailor care to the child: adjust for age, weight and development. Verify a child’s identity before any intervention and check for allergies.
- Prevent harm: watch for the main causes of harm such as medication errors, health care-associated infections and diagnostic errors.
- Act early: spot signs of deterioration. Respond promptly.
- Partner with parents and children: communicate clearly. Listen actively. Encourage questions and involve them in the decision-making.
- Coordinate and learn: share information clearly across teams. Report incidents to improve care and contribute towards improvement efforts.
FEATURED EVENTS:
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Improving Patient Safety under PSIRF: Thematic Reviews
Fri, 19 Sep 2025
Virtual, Online
Saving Babies Lives: Reducing Stillbirth and Ensuring Adherence to SBLv3
Fri, 26 Sep 2025
Virtual, Online
Deteriorating Patient Summit: Implementing the National PIER Framework & ensuring best practice in the use of NEWS2
Tue, 14 Oct 2025
Virtual, Online
Recognising & Responding to Maternal Deterioration: Implementing MEWS
Wed, 15 Oct 2025
Virtual, Online
