HSSIB blog: WHO calls for safe care for every newborn and every child (17 September 2025)

Summary

The theme for World Patient Safety Day this year is ‘Safe care for every newborn and every child’, with the slogan ‘Patient safety from the start!’, recognising the vulnerability of this age group to risks and harm caused by unsafe care.

Rosie Benneyworth, Interim Chief Executive at HSSIB, reflects on the work the Health Service Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) is doing to support World Health Organization’s call for every newborn and every child to have access to safe, high-quality care.

HSIB/HSSIB have published 23 reports with more than 60 recommendations that aim to improve the safety of care for babies and children. These range from an early report investigating concerns relating to the ingestion of button batteries by children under 5 years old, to their exploratory review of maternity and neonatal services published last month.

Further reading on the hub:

• Patient safety for babies and children: key resources
• Patient Safety Learning: World Patient Safety Day 2025