By Orla Fitzsimmons, Policy, Campaigns & Public Affairs Officer.

Today marks World Patient Safety Day, a campaign by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that brings together patients, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and health and care leaders to improve patient safety.

The theme for this year’s World Patient Safety Day is ‘safe care for every newborn and every child’, focusing on the safe care for newborns and giving children the best possible start to life.

Health equity from day one to tackle disparities in children’s health

Health equity from day one means every child in Britain gets the same safe, high-quality care. Right now, we know that isn’t happening. The ongoing postcode lottery of care, an issue experienced and shared with us by patients means that children and their families are not getting the care they need. A 2023 survey of teachers by the British Dental Association found that 25% of teachers surveyed had experienced children missing school because of poor oral hygiene. And in July 2025, NHS waiting list data indicated that more than one in 10 (11%) of the elective care waiting list was made up of those aged 18 or under.

But it isn’t just health and care services that impact a child’s health outcomes. Health inequalities, and the social and structural determinants of health, have a staggering impact on children’s health. We’re a supporter of the Health Equals Campaign, which last year highlighted the stark differences in life expectancy based on where in the country a child is born. The campaign found that where you’re born can cut your life short by up to 16 years.

The knock-on effects of social and structural determinants of health can have severe consequences, especially in maternity care. Currently, Black women are more than four times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts, and other than all white backgrounds, all other ethnic groups had above average rates of stillbirth.

To make sure that health is more equitable, the government must develop a ‘health in all policies’ strategy. Health in all policies is an approach that promotes wellbeing and prevents illness through co-ordinated efforts across all areas of government. Examples of health in all policies might be healthier school lunches, or increasing the number of green spaces to encourage physical activity. This would ensure that every child, irrespective of where they’re from, receives the same opportunities to live happy and healthy lives.

Maternal and newborn safety

The NHS aims to take care of all patients, from cradle to grave. However, in recent years, we have seen an increase in maternity services failing to deliver care safely. There have been many reports analysing the state of individual maternity services. This week, the government named the 14 NHS trusts that will be investigated as part of Baroness Amos’ rapid national investigation announced in June. The investigation will look at the quality and safety of maternity and neonatal services and identify the drivers and impact of inequalities, with interim recommendations expected in December 2025. While previous reports have made clear recommendations, parents are still not experiencing the care they need and deserve.

In turn, children are at times born into unsafe hospital environments, potentially damaging their health outcomes from the very moment they are born and in the worst cases leading to tragic preventable deaths. Too often, parents who raise concerns about their care are dismissed or ignored, leaving families to fight for answers and justice while grieving the loss of their child or dealing with the trauma of unsafe care.

The scale of this weeks announcement demonstrates how widespread these safety and equity issues have become.

Our helpline hears from patients and their families, concerned by the safety of their loved ones while in maternity care. While still in hospital following a traumatic birth, one patient shared that they had not been seen by a doctor in any capacity for two days. No follow ups, no check ins, not even being asked how she was feeling. To be left alone following a traumatic birth is extremely harmful to both the mother and child, leading to them feeling unsupported, scared and confused during what should be a happy time.

To truly give children the best start in life, it is crucial maternity care is safe and equitable. We have seen far too many reviews that have led to little action. To make genuine improvements and to ensure that children and their families have the best care possible from the very beginning, patients must be partnered with, listened to, and their feedback and concerns genuinely heard and valued.

Listening, learning and acting to give every child the best start in life

The aims of this year’s World Patient Safety Day remind us that safe care for every child is a fundamental right. Yet, children continue to pay the price for systematic failures and inequalities in our healthcare system.

Baroness Amos has promised to put families at the heart of her investigation, which offers hope for meaningful change. But the solution must include genuinely valuing patient voices and experience. Parents know when something isn’t right and understand the barriers they face better than anyone. The healthcare system must change the balance of power and truly listen to families and act on what they say.