BETTERCARE COST Action – WG1 & WG4 Joint Meeting

As WG1 Co-Leader of the BETTERCARE COST Action and Head of the Department of Health Systems Management and Leadership at the University of Malta, Professor Sandra C. Buttigieg co-organised and contributed to the joint preparatory meeting of Working Groups 1 and 4, held at Villa Messina, Malta, on 16–17 October 2025.

The event was hosted by Mr Noel Borg, Chief Operations Officer of CareMalta, and WG 1 MC member, and as part of the ongoing University of Malta – CareMalta Memorandum of Understanding. Participants also enjoyed a guided walk around Villa Messina, observing first-hand the company’s significant investments as part of its strong person-safety strategy for both residents and staff.

Organised in close collaboration with Dr Noemia Bessa Vilela and Dr Ricky Bitton Cohen, Co-Leaders of WG4, the meeting brought together experts, researchers, and policymakers from across Europe to explore the future of the new care economy. Key discussions focused on informal care, caregiver empowerment, and patient safety — with particular emphasis on the legal perspectives of informal care and the patient safety challenges related to this sector.

Dr Patricia Vella Bonanno, a member of the Department of Health Systems Management and Leadership, also participated in the discussions, contributing to the dialogue on system learning and safety culture in informal care.

Professor Buttigieg led the session “Care Errors and Adverse Events – From Error to Learning,” highlighting the importance of promoting a Just Culture within informal care settings to foster openness, accountability, and wellbeing among caregivers.

The event was hugely successful, resulting in meaningful outputs and outcomes that will strengthen the BETTERCARE network’s mission to promote safer, more equitable, and person-centred care across Europe.