Wiki Haumaru Tūroro | Patient Safety Week update – 26 September 2019

Wiki Haumaru Tūroro | Patient Safety Week takes place on 3–9 November 2019. This is the last Patient Safety Week to be held in November. From next year, New Zealand will be aligning with the new World Health Organization Patient Safety Day on 17 September.

Learning modules
Our three free video modules on understanding bias in health care are nearing completion. They will be presented as a learning and education package and available on Learn Online. Further information about the topics covered in the modules will be available on the Commission's website including links to medical colleges and associations’ cultural competency information, health literacy information and further learning.

Poster orders
Orders for our free Patient Safety Week posters are open: http://bit.ly/biasposters. You can place your orders now but please note that they won't be dispatched until mid-October. The posters encourage clinicians and others to view the videos and examine their own biases. There is a generic version, plus a version which can be written on (eg, if your district health board/primary health care organisation/organisation is holding screenings of the videos during Patient Safety Week; time, date and venue details can be added). The posters are available in A3 size only.

Guest blogs
Do you, or a colleague or friend, have a story to share about bias in health care? Perhaps you identified your own biases and would like to share how you changed your practice as a result, or you may have your own experience of bias because of weight, gender, sexual orientation, race etc. We would love to share your experiences in a series of guest blogs throughout the week. Please email us at PatientSafetyWeek@hqsc.govt.nz if you would like to contribute.

Social media posts
We will be sharing snippets of the video modules via social media and will prepare and share social media posts with district health boards communications teams in the coming weeks.

Experts to talk about bias
The Commission is funding one expert to come to each of the four regions to present. We have already been contacted by a number of organisations and plans are underway for these visits. We are happy to put you in touch with the relevant regional contacts to see if you might like to tap into their presentation via videoconference or similar. Email us at PatientSafetyWeek@hqsc.govt.nz for more information.

Local plans
We are also keen to hear about what your plans are locally – are you holding a group viewing of the modules within your team or organisation? Creating your own videos and stories about bias in health care to share? Setting up a booth in the entrance way to promote Patient Safety Week? Send us your plans as we’d love to help share them across the country. You can also tag us on social media (@HQSCNZ on Twitter and Facebook).

Further updates on PSW will be provided through the website and update emails. If you have any queries, please contact PatientSafetyWeek@hqsc.govt.nz.

Thank you for your ongoing support.