Families of patients in all acute hospitals across England can now request an urgent second opinion if they are concerned about the care their loved ones are receiving, following the nationwide rollout of Martha's Rule.
Martha's Rule is a major patient safety initiative designed to improve the early detection of a patient's health deteriorating by ensuring that the concerns of patients, families, carers and healthcare staff are both heard and acted upon. The policy was developed in response to the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills, following campaigning by her parents.
Since April 2024, it has been piloted in 143 hospital sites in England. Figures from NHS England show that since then there have been almost 5,000 calls, resulting in 241 potentially life-saving interventions.
A full evaluation of the scheme is under way to assess its effectiveness and explore potential expansion to hospitals providing long-term care, as well as to mental health and community healthcare settings.
Plans are now being developed to bring similar schemes to health care systems across the UK.
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