Martha's Rule must be rolled out to maternity care', mother says

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"Martha's Rule, an NHS safety initiative which allows families and patients to seek a rapid second opinion on their hospital care, should also be rolled across maternity care in the UK, the founder of the scheme has said. Merope Mills said the availability of Martha's Rule in maternity care would give women and their partners concerned about the care they were receiving a greater voice."

"Ms Mills' and her husband launched the campaign for the initiative after their daughter Martha died at Kings College Hospital in Camberwell aged 13 in 2021 after developing sepsis. Their concerns about Martha's deteriorating condition were brushed aside. A coroner later concluded that Martha would most likely have survived had doctors identified the warning signs of septic shock and transferred her to intensive care sooner."

The Independent seeks donations to fund on-the-ground reporting across issues including reproductive rights, climate change and Big Tech while keeping content free of paywalls. Donations enable investigative work, documentaries and journalists who report multiple perspectives. Martha's Rule is an NHS safety initiative that enables families and patients to request a rapid second opinion on hospital care. The founder seeks extension of Martha's Rule across UK maternity services to give concerned women and partners a stronger voice. Martha's Rule is operational in all English hospitals delivering acute or short-term treatment and has produced life-saving treatment changes.

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