Patient Safety Week 2019 to focus on improving communication by understanding implicit bias in health care

When: 3 to 9 November 2019
Theme: Improving communication by understanding implicit bias in health care

Planning for Patient Safety Week | Wiki Haumaru Tūroro (3–9 November 2019) is underway. This year we are again partnering with ACC to promote the week.

We have several groups advising us or having input into this year’s approach including an external ‘ideas group’ made up of representatives from district health boards (DHBs), primary and secondary care, ACC and the Ministry of Health; the Commission’s Te Rōpū Maori and consumer network; DHB quality and risk managers, and internal Commission staff.

These groups have given some valuable input into development and refinement of our planned resources, and we will continue to work with them.

The theme

The theme of ‘Improving communication by understanding implicit bias in health care’ has been chosen because there is:

• a growing focus on the impact bias can have on people’s experiences with health services
• increasing awareness of how implicit or unconscious bias contributes to the poorer patient experiences for Māori and other population groups in New Zealand.

More information will be available on our website over coming months.

Feedback or enquiries

If you have feedback or questions, please contact the team at patientsafetyweek@hqsc.govt.nz. Further updates will also be available on the Commission’s website as planning progresses: Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand