On 25 February 2026, the WPA attended the Patient Safety Forum 2026, a high-level gathering of healthcare leaders, policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates focused on advancing patient safety as a system wide priority. The Forum explored how health systems can reduce avoidable harm by strengthening safety culture and accountability, improving patient and family engagement, and making safer use of digital health, data, and artificial intelligence.
The programme included keynote contributions from Penny Dash (Chief Executive, NHS England) and Stephen Dorrell (Chair, Public Policy Projects), alongside reflections from Helen Hughes (Chief Executive, Patient Safety Learning) on current and emerging patient safety challenges.
Key discussions focused on:
– Using technology and data to improve patient and staff safety
– The opportunities and risks of AI in healthcare, including governance and assurance
– Strengthening digital clinical safety standards within the NHS
– Innovations to improve medicines safety
– Promoting meaningful patient, family, and carer engagement to strengthen communication and shared decision-making
Jolanta Bilińska, WPA Board of Director, represented WPA and held constructive discussions with Patient Safety Learning on potential collaboration, particularly around developing education and capacity building initiatives to empower patient advocates and patient organisations to contribute more effectively to safer care.
In addition, on 24 February 2026, Jolanta participated in a UK Parliament public hearing on access to healthcare, where concerns were raised about barriers to primary care especially for migrant communities and the links between access, communication, and patient safety. WPA remains committed to advancing patient safety globally by strengthening patient engagement and building partnerships that support safer, more equitable, and more compassionate health systems.
