Aotearoa Patient Safety Day 2026 Te Rā Haumaru Tūroro o Aotearoa 2026

We are guided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) annual patient safety campaign. This year it is ‘Safe care for noncommunicable diseases’, under the slogan ‘Safe care for life!’ 

The campaign focusses on reducing harm across the continuum of noncommunicable disease (NCD) care.  

This year, we are focusing on asthma and airway conditions. 

Together they affect around one million New Zealanders each year and are a significant cause of preventable harm.  

Hospitalisation rates are significantly higher for Māori, Pacific peoples and people living in areas of high deprivation.  

We invite health care workers, consumers and whānau across the country to learn more about practical steps to support safer care for people with asthma and airway conditions. 

Asthma and airway conditions are common, long-term conditions that affect people of all ages. 

Good management can help people stay well, reduce hospital admissions and improve quality of life.  

We can reduce harm by following the steps outlined in the ‘Asthma and airway conditions prompts' - the new resource developed for Aotearoa Patient Safety Day 2026 which will be available in November. 

Health care workers 

At your November team meeting, put asthma and airway conditions on the agenda. 

Use Aotearoa Patient Safety Day as an opportunity to: 

• discuss how your team supports people with asthma and airway conditions
• review processes for patients to demonstrate inhaler or device technique
• make sure patients have a clear, up-to-date action plan
• share resources that support safer breathing and better outcomes.  

Resources are available below to support quality improvement and safe care. 

Consumers and whānau 

If you or someone in your whānau has asthma or an airway condition, there are simple steps that can help you stay well. 

You can: 

• ask your health care provider to check your inhaler or device technique
• make sure you understand how and when to take your medicines and if they are the right ones for you
• ask for an asthma or airway condition action plan
• learn what to do if symptoms change, get worse or remain the same.

Small changes can make a big difference. Better breathing starts with knowing what to do, when to do it and where to get help. 

Asthma and airway conditions prompts 

This resource is for health care workers supporting patients with asthma and airways conditions. It will be released in November 

Aotearoa Patient Safety Day resources 

Social media tiles, and email signature and desktop background will be released in November.