Today HDC marks World Patient Safety Day.
A global initiative of the World Health Organisation, the day is focused on reducing avoidable patient harm and promoting safer health care.
The focus of this year is raising awareness of challenges associated with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
NCDs include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, which often require ongoing care throughout life.
People living with NCDs have ongoing treatment needs and frequent interactions with health providers, so it’s important they are empowered to understand and exercise their rights.
Everyone has the right to receive an appropriate standard of care that meets their needs and upholds their dignity and mana, and to information that enables them to be a partner in their care.
Improving patient safety is a key driver for the over 700 recommendations HDC makes each year in response to complaints. Most people who contact HDC are keen to see change so that what went wrong for them will not happen to others. We work closely with health and disability providers to make recommendations that are meaningful and designed to improve care and safety in their practice, and around 89 percent of our recommendations are implemented.
Join us in marking the day.
For more information on World Patient Safety Day head to the World Health Organisation's website, and importantly check out your rights on our website - Respecting Your Rights videos — Health & Disability Commissioner.