143 hospitals to roll out 'Martha's Rule'
The announcement comes as the next step in a major patient safety initiative
Last updated 27th May 2024
The NHS has announced the 143 hospital sites set to test and roll out Martha's Rule in its first year.
Martha's Rule exists to provide a consistent and understandable way for patients and families to seek an urgent review if their, or their loved one's, condition deteriorates and they have concerns that this is not being addressed.
The scheme is named after Martha Mills, who died of sepsis aged 13, while being treated in King's College Hospital, London, due to a failure to escalate her to an intensive care unit and her family's concerns were dismissed.
Martha's Rule is to be made up of three components, to ensure concerns about deterioration can be swiftly responded to.
An escalation process will be available 24/7 at all participating sites, advertised throughout the 143 hospitals via posters and leaflets. This will allow patients and their families to contact a critical care outreach team who can assess a case, and escalate where necessary.
Secondly, NHS staff will also have access to this same process if they have concerns about a patient's condition.
The final component of the scheme will see clinicians formally recording daily insights and information from patient's families, ensuring any concerning changes, noticed by the people who know the patient best, are considered by staff.
Merope Mills and Paul Laity, Martha's parents, said: "We are pleased that the roll-out of Martha's Rule is off to a flying start and that the need for it has been so widely recognised.
"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."