By Charlotte Webster-
The NHS has announced that 143 hospital sites will test and roll out “Martha’s Rule” in its first year, allowing patients and families to seek a second opinion if they feel their condition, or that of a loved one, is deteriorating and they are not being listened to.
Doctors will be told that they must make formal notes of changes in behaviour or condition seen by those who know the patient best.
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Martha’s Rule is being brought in following the avoidable death of a teenage girl from sepsis, a life-threatening reaction in which the immune system attacks the body’s tissues and organs.
The escalation process will be facilitated through an internal phone number advertised on posters and leaflets throughout the hospitals.
Families and patients who call the number can request a second opinion from a critical care outreach team. NHS England has stated that the programme will be fully implemented at all 143 sites by March 2025.
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The initiative follows the tragic death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021. Martha developed sepsis after suffering a pancreatic injury from a fall off her bike.
Despite her parents, Merope Mills and Paul Laity, repeatedly raising concerns about her deteriorating health, their warnings were dismissed.
A coroner ruled that Martha would most likely have survived if doctors had recognized the warning signs and transferred her to intensive care earlier.
In the wake of their daughter’s death, Martha’s parents campaigned for a system that would allow families to trigger an urgent clinical review from a different team within the hospital.
Their efforts have now led to the establishment of Martha’s Rule, which aims to save lives and improve communication on hospital wards, ensuring that patients feel heard and involved in their healthcare.
“We are pleased that the rollout of Martha’s Rule is off to a flying start and that the need for it has been so widely recognized,” said Merope Mills and Paul Laity.
“It will save lives and encourage better, more open communication on hospital wards, so that patients feel they are listened to, and partners in their healthcare.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, described the policy as “one of the most important changes to patient care in recent years.”
He praised the dedication and moving campaign by Martha’s parents, which has spurred significant interest from hospitals nationwide.
“Rolling out Martha’s Rule to over 143 NHS sites in this first phase will represent one of the most important changes to patient care in recent years,” Powis said. “We are pleased to have seen such interest from hospitals right across the country, all thanks to the moving and dedicated campaigning by Martha’s parents, Merope and Paul.”
The implementation of Martha’s Rule marks a significant step towards enhancing patient safety and ensuring that concerns are taken seriously in healthcare settings.
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