The Importance of Active Listening in Ensuring Safety

Every year, Canadian Patient  Safety Week is celebrated from  October 27 -31. It is a  united effort of  healthcare professionals, patients, families and communities across Canada with a shared mission to make care safer. This year  the theme is   “ All voices for safer care”. It reminds us that safety is not just preventing harm in a clinical sense. It is also about listening, inclusion and respect for every person’s experience in the healthcare system.

A person with latex gloves, ensuring protection and hygiene

All Voices means:

●      Patients - who have the right to speak up and ask questions about their care.

●      Families and caregivers - should be invited into conversations and decisions.

●      Healthcare teams- need to feel safe raising concerns and learning from mistakes.

●      Communities- must see themselves represented and respected in care systems.

Patient safety is not the responsibility of a single individual. It is a shared responsibility that depends on teamwork, humility and respect. It reminds us that every person , from the bedside to the boardroom, has a role in preventing harm.

When everyone’s voice is valued, trust grows and so does safety. It includes those that have been silenced or overlooked. It calls attention to the voices of Persons living with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and racialized communities, Immigrants, refugees and new comers and Individuals facing language or literacy barriers.

By embracing all voices, Canada moves closer to a future where healthcare is not only effective but deeply human.

References:

1. Prairie Mountain Health 2025: Canadian Patient Safety Week

2. Healthcare Excellence Canada 2025