Martha's rule now in operation at every acute hospital in England

"Martha's rule, which lets NHS patients request a review of their care, is now in operation in every acute hospital in England, health service bosses disclosed on Thursday. The system has helped hundreds of people receive potentially life-saving improvements to their treatment since its rollout began last year. It has led directly to patients being moved to intensive care or receiving drugs they needed, such as antibiotics, or benefiting from other vital interventions."

"A coroner found she would probably have survived if she had been moved to the intensive care unit at King's College hospital in London when she began deteriorating. Martha would have been 18 on Thursday if she had lived. Martha's rule became available in 143 acute hospitals in England last year. But it has also been implemented in the other 67 such sites, which means all 210 acute facilities are covered."

"NHS England's national medical director, Prof Meghana Pandit, said it is having a transformative impact on how hospitals work with patients and their families when their condition is worsening. Martha's rule helplines in hospitals received 4,906 calls between last September and June from patients, relatives or staff who were worried about care. That led to 241 people receiving improvements to their care that may have saved their life."

Martha's rule grants patients, relatives and NHS staff the right to request a different medical team to review and recommend changes to care. The policy is now implemented across all 210 acute hospitals in England after initial rollout in 143 sites. Helplines logged 4,906 calls between last September and June from concerned patients, relatives or staff. Those calls resulted in 241 people receiving care improvements that may have saved their lives, including transfers to intensive care and administration of essential drugs such as antibiotics. The measure is named after Martha Mills, who died from sepsis in 2021.

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