Welcome to the September edition of the Clinical Communiqué. This edition marks three years and a dozen publications since the launch of our series. Over that time, we have looked at many themes central for improving safe and timely care to patients, including the importance of recognising the deteriorating patient, teamwork and communication, and effective decision-making. Medications represent another area where safety issues such as prescribing practices and modes of medication delivery are critical in many cases of avoidable patient deaths.