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The Uganda Alliance of Patients' Organizations has produced three videos for World Patient Safety Day 2026.

SACCIA is not a set of communication rules to memorise. It is a framework for understanding, developing and applying the communicative competencies that enable people to build shared understanding together.

Twenty women underwent mastectomies unnecessarily while being treated for breast cancer, an NHS trust in north-east England has told the BBC. They were among hundreds of patients who came to harm during treatment at the breast unit of the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT). The admission comes in the wake of revelations about serious failures in the unit, as reported by the BBC last year. Dozens of affected women and their families contacted us after we reported concerns about serious failings at the trust's breast cancer unit. These included: A high number of mastectomies compared with other NHS trusts. Operations that were carried out "too quickly". Outsourcing of some treatment to private clinics run by the trust's breast cancer clinical lead - an arrangement that one independent expert said created "a clear conflict of interest. Patients described the shock they had felt on being told a mastectomy (the removal of all or part of a breast) could have been avoided, as well as the psychological and physical pain that many still live with. CDDFT is now carrying out an internal review of breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025, alongside the cases of 640 former patients who contacted a dedicated helpline. It says that cases have also been identified where cancer diagnoses were missed or delayed. Some of these patients subsequently saw their cancer spread. Last year, BBC News reported that nearly £6m had been paid by the trust over six years to breast cancer diagnostic clinics and surgery companies run privately by Mr Amir Bhatti, who was CDDFT's clinical lead for breast services from 2013-24. Concern about this arrangement was raised in a 2025 review into the running of the trust carried out by governance specialist Mary Aubrey, She said outsourcing patient appointments had created financial incentives which were potentially "a risk to clinical standards". Mr Bhatti has now been suspended from carrying out clinical practice but is still employed by the trust on full pay. Read full story Source: BBC News, 18 September 2026 Related reading on the hub: Report of the independent Inquiry into the issues raised by Paterson

Pennsylvania is seeking emergency assistance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a major measles outbreak spreads across the state. The state warned the request could be withdrawn unless the federal agency publicly recognises four measles-associated deaths reported by the state. The Pennsylvania department of health has begun the process of requesting CDC emergency support known as an Epi-Aid, according to a letter reviewed by the Guardian. The letter was first reported by Reuters on Thursday. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania’s secretary of health, outlined the condition in a letter sent on Wednesday to the CDC director, Erica Schwartz. “The CDC’s choice not to publicly recognize ⁠the deaths undermines our response,” Bogen wrote. “For this reason, if CDC is unable to transparently and accurately communicate information about those measles-associated deaths, the department will respectfully rescind our request for a CDC Epi-Aid.” The development comes amid an ongoing dispute involving Josh Shapiro, the state’s Democratic governor, and Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, over the state’s handling of the outbreak and how measles-related deaths are being counted. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 17 September 2026

Major concerns have been raised about patient and staff safety on wards at a Welsh hospital in a damning report by the watchdog. The investigation into two mental health wards at the University Hospital Llandough in Cardiff by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) comes just months they published a similar report raising concerns about other mental health units at the hospital. An unannounced inspection at the Meadow and Daffodil mental health rehabilitation services in June found mould, ceiling leaks, faulty showers and bathing facilities at the hospital. Inspectors also identified "significant concerns" regarding mandatory training compliance and were not satisfied that sufficient staff could manage risks safely. HIW said "urgent action was required at the unit" to address immediate patient staff and safety concerns as a result. Progress across the health board will be monitored closely as a result of the recent inspections, the watchdog added. Read full story Source: Wales Online, 17 September 2026

Cyber incidents can have a major impact on care services. Systems may be unavailable, information may be difficult to access, and staff, people drawing on care, families and partners may need clear updates quickly. Good communication helps reduce uncertainty, supports safe care and makes sure the right people know what is happening, what they need to do and when they will be updated again. Digital Care Hub has developed editable communication checklists to help adult social care providers prepare before a cyber incident and communicate during one. There are separate versions for home care services and care homes. Each checklist should be used alongside your Business Continuity Plan.

Transformative Simulation considers how simulation can be intentionally used beyond education to understand and contribute to change within healthcare systems. The Improvement Simulation-Based Intention focuses on using simulation to make what already exists better—testing and refining healthcare processes, pathways and systems where a problem or desired outcome has already been identified. This resource from hub topic lead Sharon Weldon brings together a short Transformative Simulation thought piece, visual explainer and selected examples from the literature demonstrating how simulation has been used to support patient safety and system improvement in practice. Further resources from Sharon on Transformative Simulation: Using simulation to strengthen workforce participation, belonging and wellbeing: The Inclusion Intention Using simulation to involve patients and communities in shaping safer care: The Involvement Intention Using simulation to identify patient safety challenges: The Identification Intention

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing calls to set a national waiting-time target for dementia care in England. An Alzheimer's Society proposal to set an 18‑week referral‑to‑treatment target has been backed by Professor Sir Mike Richards, England's former national cancer director, and Baroness Louise Casey, who's leading a major review of adult social care. In a report, Alzheimer's Society and the King's Trust said a "cancer-style revolution" was needed to improve dementia care, which they described as being "stuck in the 20th century". In a speech at Alzheimer's Society conference on Thursday, Social Care Minister Alison McGovern expressed support for the report, external. She said: "The report that the Alzheimer's Society published today on going on the journey that we've been on with cancer, with Alzheimer's and dementia, I think that's spot on." The minister said dementia had been "neglected for far too long". She added: "And nowhere is this division between health and social care felt more sharply than by people living with dementia in their families, too often left to navigate a shattered system at the most difficult time in their lives." Read full story Source: BBC News, 17 September 2026 Further reading on the hub: Making patient safety work for people living with dementia

Proposals to limit the number of patients being formally diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have been attacked as “rationing” healthcare and pushing children and adults to self-diagnosis via social media. The comments came before a government review due next week, which is expected to say that patients with ADHD symptoms should not automatically be formally diagnosed, but should be “triaged” and offered support without the need for a formal diagnosis. Details of this “needs-based” system, first revealed in the Times, would mean NHS services target those most acutely affected by ADHD, such as those at risk of self-harm or unable to work. Less severely affected people may not be referred for a formal diagnosis to NHS clinics but would be offered help according to a “holistic” assessment of their needs, the report will say. Proposals to limit the number of patients being formally diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have been attacked as “rationing” healthcare and pushing children and adults to self-diagnosis via social media. The comments came before a government review due next week, which is expected to say that patients with ADHD symptoms should not automatically be formally diagnosed, but should be “triaged” and offered support without the need for a formal diagnosis. Details of this “needs-based” system, first revealed in the Times, would mean NHS services target those most acutely affected by ADHD, such as those at risk of self-harm or unable to work. Less severely affected people may not be referred for a formal diagnosis to NHS clinics but would be offered help according to a “holistic” assessment of their needs, the report will say. The government’s independent review of mental health conditions, autism and ADHD was commissioned in December by the then health secretary, Wes Streeting, amid concerns over the sharp rise of people making sickness benefit claims due to mental health, autism and ADHD diagnoses. Led by Prof Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst at University College London, the interim review concluded that the system forces children and adults to obtain a formal diagnosis in order to get support. Official figures show that patients are waiting years to be assessed, with 800,000 on NHS waiting lists. Meanwhile, complaints about autism and ADHD services in England have more than tripled in five years. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 17 September 2026

Government has named a chair for its public inquiry into care and governance failings at a mental health trust – nine months after the probe was promised. Judge John Potter is to lead the inquiry into Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Foundation Trust, which will examine the deaths of teenagers Christine Harnett, Nadia Shariff, and Emily Moore, who died by suicide while in the trust’s care, in 2019 and 2020. He is a retired circuit judge and former deputy judge of the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal, with over 40 years of experience in public service, judicial leadership, and the administration of justice. He said his first priority would be to meet and “listen to those affected”, who would be “central to the inquiry’s work” and terms of reference. Its formal start date will be Monday. Lawyers and the families have called for the inquiry’s scope to include all sites run by the trust, not just West Lane Hospital, where two of the teenagers died. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 18 September 2026

This is the second of two investigation reports into crisis care in emergency departments (EDs). An interim report was published in April 2026 following early identification of a significant legal, policy and safety gap in the care of people in mental health crisis in EDs. This report is part of the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB)’s wider work on safety issues for people experiencing a mental health crisis who come into contact with urgent and emergency care services. A related investigation is examining the 999 and 111 response to mental health crisis and will report its findings in spring 2027. The two investigations consider different points in the same pathway. Wider health and care system issues are included where they directly affect ED care, and further themes may be brought together in a separate, final report drawing on evidence from both investigations. Around 3% of ED attendances are mental health-related. However, people experiencing mental health problems are twice as likely as other patients to remain in the ED for more than 12 hours.

Richard Yates and Magdalene Plesa gave a presentation at a recent Safer Healthcare Biosafety Network meeting describing the issue of formalin and formaldehyde exposure in UK healthcare settings, with harmful side effects for healthcare workers and a lack of occupational protection or safety regulation.

Transformative Simulation considers how simulation can be intentionally used beyond education to understand and contribute to change within healthcare systems. The Inclusion Simulation-Based Intention focuses on using simulation to strengthen workforce participation, belonging, empowerment and wellbeing, creating conditions in which people feel able to contribute meaningfully to healthcare systems and change. This resource from hub topic lead Sharon Weldon brings togethers a short Transformative Simulation thought piece, visual explainer and selected examples from the literature demonstrating how simulation can contribute to more inclusive, connected and psychologically safe healthcare workplaces. Further resources from Sharon on Transformative Simulation: Using simulation to improve patient safety and healthcare systems: The Improvement Intention Using simulation to involve patients and communities in shaping safer care: The Involvement Intention Using simulation to identify patient safety challenges: The Identification Intention

As quality depends on the decisions made every day, it should be part of daily planning, decision-making and operational delivery, not checked after the event or seen as a separate governance process. A quality management system (QMS) can help NHS organisations do this by providing a consistent approach, creating a clearer link between patient care, organisational priorities and board oversight. This guide explains how a QMS works and includes an example implementation plan that organisations can adapt to their local context.

Traditionally, patient experience has had less focus than safety and effectiveness, even though it tells us whether care is compassionate, inclusive, responsive and person-centred. How care feels matters because it shapes trust, confidence, equity and outcomes. This document defines what excellent experience looks and feels like across NHS-funded care. This means being clear about the behaviours, systems and culture that help people feel listened to, respected, involved and supported throughout their care.

In this blog to mark World Patient Safety Day 2026, Patient Safety Learning argues that we need a transformation in our approach to patient safety. We explore what this year’s theme, “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases,” means for patient safety and highlight the work Patient Safety Learning has been doing to support the campaign. This includes a downloadable poster and a series of related blogs on the hub, offering practical insights and resources to help drive action for safer care.

World Patient Safety Day (WPSD 2026) offers an opportunity to rethink whose expertise shapes safer care. Learn why patients and families must be meaningfully engaged in designing care for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) across the full journey in this blog from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

Currently, around one in every ten patients globally are harmed by unintended or unexpected events during the provision of healthcare, and more than three million deaths occur annually due to unsafe care practices. In the past three years, 9.7% of British adults reported harm from NHS care or lack of access to care. To tackle this, there is ongoing work across the sector to improve safety by reducing avoidable harm and by minimising adverse events and medical errors. Thursday, 17 September marks World Patient Safety Day 2026, established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to bring together service users, providers, and governments in advocating for patient safety. To mark World Patient Safety Day, Molly Hopson, senior research associate at Picker, reflects on what available data on patient and staff experience tells us about patient safety in the NHS in England, and what the link is between patient safety and experience.

The NHS chief executive is set to have equal rank in government to the health department’s permanent secretary when NHS England is abolished – meaning a proposal to downgrade their status has been rejected by ministers. The decision was made by health and social care secretary Yvette Cooper last week, after several weeks of deliberation over the choices she needs to make ahead of NHSE being scrapped, officials have been told. Ms Cooper had decided the NHS CEO post will sit “alongside the permanent secretary” of the Department of Health and Social Care and with “equal rank” in government, the current NHSE CEO Sir Jim Mackey said at a staff meeting last week. She wants a return to a departmental structure very close to that immediately before the creation of NHS England in 2012, Sir Jim said. This would include a distinct “NHS executive” group within the department, to run NHS-focused national work, led by the NHS CEO. The decision means the NHS CEO will report directly to the health and social care secretary and, in central government, to the cabinet secretary, after NHSE is abolished, which is due to take place at the end of March.

Successful delivery of NHS England’s £2.5bn Frontline Productivity programme “appears to be unachievable” due to governance failures and political uncertainty, according to a government review. A review of the programme carried out by the government in July gave the programme a “red” confidence rating and concluded that “successful delivery is unlikely under the current operating arrangements”. The review, which has never been published, found that the programme’s ambition of devolving delivery to regions was undermined by “ongoing restructuring” and “the desire for greater control from the centre”. It said that achieving the programme’s aims was “predicated on a model of region-led delivery that has been overtaken by events, not least the significant reductions in capacity at regional level”, and that the model therefore requires “rapid recalibration”. In a response provided within the report, NHSE director of frontline productivity Dermot Ryan said the “red” rating was “warranted” and acknowledged the need to “reset the operating model”, but said this “falls outside my powers”. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 16 September 2026