Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) is celebrating World Patient Safety Day today (September 17), as the World Health Organisation (WHO) launches a global campaign.

‘Safe health workers, Safe patients’, emphasises health worker safety as a precursor for patient safety and urges people to show their commitment to make health care safer for everyone.

This year’s focus is as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has exerted unprecedented pressure on health services and health workers, many of whom have also been harmed while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hazel Richards, Chief Nurse and Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Wirral University Hospital Teaching Hospital Trust said: “The campaign theme is that by looking after our healthcare workers, they can then give better care to patients.

"We know this all too well in WUTH and have put a great deal of effort into staff physical and mental wellbeing, and building personal and team resilience. So on World Patient Safety Day I want to thank our staff across all areas who work as a team and to urge people to take the time to look after themselves and their work colleagues so that we give the best care to our patients.”

The campaign aims to mobilise patients, health workers, health leaders, policy-makers, academics, researchers, professional networks, the private sector and health care industry to speak up for health worker safety to improve the safety of health care, and reduce the risk of harm, both to health workers and patients.

For patients, families, caregivers, communities and the wider public the campaign is asking health trusts to recognise that safer care for all, starts with healthcare workers.

According to the WHO, safe health care also starts with good communication, it’s good to ask questions and healthworkers should be actively involved in their own care.

It’s also important to provide accurate information about our health and medical history –including staff taking part in health risk assessments. Trusts should also adhere to appropriate infection prevention and control practices and wear the correct PPE.

The WHO is calling on all stakeholders to implement urgent and sustainable actions which recognise and invest in the safety of health workers, as a priority for patient safety.

The organisation also wants to see due recognition of health workers’ dedication and hard work, particularly amid the current fight against COVID-19.