The National Patient Safety Plan for NHS Wales 2026 – 2031 establishes patient safety as an essential priority for all parts of the NHS in Wales.
The plan sets out a bold vision to make care in Wales safer by reducing avoidable harm and building a culture where learning and improvement are at the heart of everything the NHS does. Through listening, leadership and learning, the plan will guide and drive patient safety improvements throughout Wales.
For the first time, the plan provides a coherent national framework, moving Wales beyond isolated initiatives and towards a unified and consistent, system wide approach rooted in learning, prevention and continuous improvement. It creates a non-negotiable commitment to a safety culture, visible and engaged leadership, psychologically safe working environments, and meaningful learning from experience.
The plan places greater emphasis on patient and public insight, ensuring lived experience informs safety improvement at every level. Its delivery will blend swift action where there are urgent priorities, with longer-term activity co-designed with staff, patients and partners.
At the centre of the Plan is a Quality Management System (QMS) approach, bringing together planning, improvement, control and assurance into a single, consistent model for patient safety.
Alongside establishing patient safety as an essential priority for all parts of the NHS in Wales, the plan sets out six strategic national clinical safety priorities for specific focus identified by healthcare organisations and Welsh Government:
A further seventh strategic national clinical safety priority regarding medicines safety is also in development.
NHS Wales Performance and Improvement will work in partnership with national organisations and local systems to deliver the plan, ensuring health boards and trusts have the support, expertise and frameworks they need to succeed.
Progress will be monitored through the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) and regular reviews, ensuring transparency, learning, and continuous improvement.
A National Clinical Governance Framework and National Patient Safety Team will guide its delivery, set standards, and ensure accountability and connectivity across Wales
View the National Patient Safety Plan for NHS Wales 2026 – 2031 here.