Health and disability sector harm (adverse) events infographic

Harm during the provision of health care has wide-ranging negative impacts on human wellbeing and relationships for consumers, whānau, health workers and communities.  What is important is the harm (adverse) event provides an opportunity to heal, learn and improve, with a focus on meeting the unique needs of the people involved.  

The health and disability sector harm (adverse) events infographics are intended to inform providers, consumers and whānau on the harm (adverse) events reported to the Health Quality & Safety Commission Te Tāhū Hauora. 

The infographics currently available are for the:

• 2022/23 year (1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023) under the National Adverse Event policy 2017.
  • View the 2022/23 infographic.

• 2023/24 year (1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024) under the revised 'Healing, learning and improving from harm: National adverse events policy 2023 |Te whakaora, te ako me te whakapai ake i te kino:Te kaupapa here ā-motu mō ngā mahi tūkino 2023'.
  • View the 2023/24 infographic.

We acknowledge it is not reflective of all health care harm and does not diminish nor discount the experiences of other consumers, whānau and health workers.  

Reporting harm | Te tuku 

The ‘Ngā paerewa health and disability services standard’ (Standards New Zealand 2021) covers a wider range of health and disability providers. Reporting harm (adverse) events to the Commission is a criterion in the standard.

The Commission is actively supporting the sector with capability building and co-designed resources.  

The reporting moved from annual to quarterly in 2020/21 which has enabled more timely public access to harm (adverse) event data.

The annual harm (adverse) events summary, informed by statistical analysis and soft intelligence, guides where to focus improvement opportunities. 

Definitions

Definitions for data labels can be found on the Harm (adverse) events quarterly dashboard background page.