What Is Patient Safety Awareness Week?
Patient Safety Awareness Week takes place every March, and this year it runs from 12th to 18th March. The initiative focuses on promoting healthcare safety education and encouraging best practices across all healthcare settings.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hospitals in both industrialised and developing countries account for approximately 2.6 million deaths each year due to unsafe or substandard care. As a result, patient safety continues to be a global priority.
Why Patient Safety Awareness Week Exists
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) uses Patient Safety Awareness Week to highlight critical safety issues at both local and international levels. By doing so, the initiative aims to improve outcomes for patients, carers, healthcare professionals, and healthcare systems.
No matter how it is defined, patient safety must always remain a top priority. Importantly, everyone working within a healthcare organisation—clinical or non-clinical—plays a role in protecting patients.
When Was Patient Safety Awareness Week Created?
The National Patient Safety Foundation introduced Patient Safety Awareness Week in 2002 as a seven-day annual event. The foundation created this initiative to encourage open dialogue on how healthcare systems can continuously improve safety standards.
In addition, Patient Safety Awareness Week provides educational materials to the public. Consequently, individuals can make more informed healthcare decisions. A 2019 WHO report revealed that one in ten patients in high-income countries experiences harm due to safety failures in healthcare.
Why Hollilander Recruitment Recognises This Week
At Hollilander Recruitment, we recognise Patient Safety Awareness Week because it provides a valuable opportunity to reinforce the standards we expect from healthcare professionals.
Furthermore, we strongly believe that patient safety extends beyond clinical roles. Even in non-clinical positions, individuals contribute to a strong and effective safety culture.
We actively uphold our core values—quality, integrity, compassion, teamwork, equity, and innovation—in everything we do. Therefore, participating in Patient Safety Awareness Week allows us to demonstrate how these values guide our daily commitment to safety.
How Can Patient Safety Be Maximised?
International Patient Safety Awareness initiatives aim to improve patient safety by:
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Increasing public awareness and engagement
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Encouraging collaboration across healthcare systems
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Strengthening global cooperation and shared learning
The World Health Organization offers extensive resources highlighting the importance of patient safety. For this reason, we encourage healthcare professionals to explore these materials and apply best practices in their daily work.
Our Thanks to Healthcare Professionals
Finally, we would like to thank all of our candidates and healthcare professionals working within the Irish healthcare sector. Your continued dedication to patient well-being and safety plays a vital role in delivering high-quality care.
Together, we can continue to build safer healthcare environments for everyone.
