The WHO has made patient safety a priority, as evidence of the harm that is associated with the delivery of care has progressively accumulated. We do not refer to just unavoidable harm, such as when an individual suffers a reaction to a medication he or she has not been previously exposed to, or from undesirable effects of a surgical intervention. The real problem is harm which is preventable and that is unfortunately part of the everyday experience of patients and professionals alike.

A number of approaches are being used simultaneously to reduce patient safety events and limit their impact when they happened. One strategy that is crucial and which is currently underutilised is to engage patients and their families in patient safety. This implies making patients active partners in our efforts to reduce harm and its impact.

This is not necessarily straightforward. People are particularly vulnerable when they need healthcare. Asymmetry in the amount of and familiarity with the relevant health and healthcare information between health professionals and patients is a gulf that is difficult to cross for many patients, unless proactive efforts are made and appropriate systems are put in place to support patients and their families. One place where this is potentially easier is in the interactions between patients and their family physicians.

Embodying patient safety is one of the core values of Family Medicine practice. World Patient Safety Day is held on 17 September every year, with this year’s theme hinging on patient and family engagement for patient safety.

There are very good reasons why patients and their families should have a significant role in patient safety. Firstly, they are free of competing incentives that may affect professionals in their professional environment. Secondly, they have a comprehensive perspective that is not limited to a particular professional, service or setting. And lastly, interactions with health professionals are but a small part of all the healthcare that patients receive, which mostly take place in their homes and are delivered by themselves and their families. Helping patients be active partners in these efforts can unleash a huge potential that presently remains largely untapped.

The Department of Family Medicine is also making patient safety a priority and contributing to this year´s Patient Safety Day, the first of many to come. We want to ensure that we make patient safety one of the core values of Family Medicine practice. To realise this, we are synthesising the best available evidence on the interventions that have been proven to be effective in improving patient safety in Family Medicine through patient and family engagement. We will be promoting and disseminating best practices in a webinar celebrating patient safety day together with our own academics, clinicians and patients as well as with international experts.

I am honoured to represent all family doctors—GPs and family physicians—at the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) Global Conference themed “Elevate the voice of patients!” in Geneva on 12 – 13 September 2023 to celebrate Patient Safety Day. We will also lead the development and presentation of a training workshop for family physicians at the WONCA world meeting in Sydney on 25 October 2023. If you are a family medicine and primary care professional, a patient or simply somebody with an interest in supporting patients and contribute to patient safety, do get in touch and join us!