Review
Many thanks to all the stakeholders and participants who got involved in World Patient Safety Day 2025!
A look back at the APS event marking World Patient Safety Day on 16 September 2025
Dear members, friends and supporters,
We would like to thank you warmly for your numerous and enthusiastic participation in our event marking World Patient Safety Day on 16 September 2025 – both in person in Berlin and online. Under the motto ‘Patient safety from childhood onwards – an investment for life’, we came together to focus on the WHO’s annual theme of safe care for newborns and children.
Thanks to your interest and commitment, the event was a great success. The lively discussions, valuable contributions and open exchange demonstrated just how important it is to prioritise patient safety from the very beginning.
Special thanks go to the German Society for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ) and the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) for acting as patrons and providing significant support for the APS event on World Patient Safety Day 2025.
We are delighted with the positive feedback and hope that you were able to take away many insights from the programme.
Brochure with programme (PDF-Download)
Patronage
The German Society for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ) is acting as patron this year for
the APS event marking World Patient Safety Day 2025.
Key theme for 2025: ‘Childcare’
Children are particularly vulnerable. This applies above all to their medical care. However, those responsible and decision-makers in the healthcare sector still too often view their safety as patients from an adult perspective. It is therefore all the more encouraging that the WHO’s theme for this year’s World Patient Safety Day is ‘Safe care for every newborn and every child’.
Accordingly, the Action Alliance for Patient Safety (APS) will focus this year’s event, held on the traditional World Patient Safety Day (WTPS) on 17 September, on the safe care of children – under the slogan: ‘Patient safety from childhood – an investment for life’.
Children are not ‘little adults’
Children do not decide for themselves which medical facility to attend or which treatment method to use in the event of illness. They must rely on the care of their legal guardians and the medical staff providing treatment and care. At the same time, the physical and psychological characteristics of children mean they should not be treated in a facility that lacks experience in dealing with children. This is because children experience a surgery or clinic differently from adult patients and are not always prepared for treatment situations that they may find unpleasant.
Talking about projects and initiatives — protecting children
To mark this year’s World Patient Safety Day, we at APS would therefore like to reach out to all stakeholders and involve them in the discussion. We want to give a voice to parents, carers, and paediatricians and obstetricians. We want them to share their experiences and explain what, in their view, is working very well, moderately well, or less well in various areas. However, as APS, our aim is not merely to repeatedly highlight – often the same – shortcomings in the healthcare system, but also to showcase the predominantly positive aspects and successes, thereby specifically addressing systemic weaknesses and patient risks – not only in children.
Many thanks to everyone involved in World Patient Safety Day 2025
Photos/image rights: APS Secretariat, TUM University Hospital – Klinikum rechts der Isar, MHH Hannover Medical School, Münster University Hospital, Essen University Hospital