Martha’s Rule gives patients, families and carers the right to ask for help if they are worried that someone’s health is getting worse in hospital.
If you are still worried after speaking to hospital staff, you can ask for an urgent review from another healthcare team.
Martha’s Rule helps make sure people’s concerns are listened to and acted on quickly.
About Martha's Rule
Martha's Rule helps spot any unexpected Unexpected means not knowing that something was going to happen. signs of deterioration early, as family members and carers may notice changes before they show up in routine checks. This rule gives you the right to request a rapid review if you have concerns that your loved one’s condition is getting worse. Noticing small changes could be an early warning sign of deterioration.
About Martha
Martha Mills died in 2021 after developing sepsis in hospital, where she had been admitted with a pancreatic injury after falling off her bike on a family holiday in Wales.
Martha’s family raised concerns about her deteriorating condition, but they were not responded to. In 2023 a coroner ruled that Martha, aged 13, would have probably survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.
Martha's mother explains more about the introduction of the rule into the NHS The NHS is the National Health Service. The NHS gives free healthcare to everyone in the UK and includes things like your GP (doctors) surgery and hospitals. , in this YouTube video.
Hospitals across the country have been introducing Martha's Rule, to give parents, carers, and patients the right for an urgent second clinical opinion from other experts at the hospital if they have concerns about their condition worsening.
3 core elements of Martha’s Rule
There are 3 key things to know about Martha’s Rule:
- Patients will be asked, at least daily, about how they are feeling, and if they are getting better or worse. This information will be acted on.
- Hospital staff will be able to ask for a review from a different team, anytime, if they're concerned that a patient is deteriorating, and they are not being responded to.
- The escalation route will always be available to patients themselves, their families and carers and the process advertised across the hospital.
Detecting deterioration
Martha’s Rule helps to empower patients, families and carers to tell staff if they are worried a health condition is getting worse.
If you're still worried after speaking to hospital staff, and feel that concerns are not being addressed, Martha’s Rule means that you can request a rapid review from a different team at the hospital.
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