Strategy

Healthcare is changing, and the system faces ongoing and emerging challenges. These include an ageing population, increasing complexity across hospital and community care, and the growing use of technology and digital tools in healthcare. Strong safety systems are essential to respond to these challenges.

Through the 2024–2027 plan, we are working with health services across NSW Health to embed safety across all parts of the system. This includes strengthening clinical governance, reducing patient harm, and improving how safety risks are identified, managed and learned from.

The plan focuses on system‑level action, so local services are better supported to deliver safe care every day and respond to safety risks in their own settings.

Our nine‑year strategy sets a longer‑term vision for safety across NSW Health. It is delivered through a series of three‑year strategic plans that allow us to plan ahead while adapting to changes in the health system. The Strategic Plan 2024–2027 is the starting point for this work, with future plans building on this foundation through collaboration and shared expertise.

As healthcare continues to evolve, safety remains our core focus. We support mature safety cultures across NSW Health so safety is embedded at every level of the system and reflected in everyday practice for patients and staff.

This work includes supporting safer care for Aboriginal people and communities and contributing to efforts to close the gap through culturally safe, system‑level approaches to patient safety.