NHS England has announced the expansion of Martha's Rule to every emergency department in England, including waiting rooms. The programme, named after 13-year-old Martha Mills who died in 2021 from sepsis, allows patients, families, and carers to request a rapid review of their care if they feel their concerns are not being addressed.
Martha's Rule was initially piloted at selected hospital sites before being rolled out to all acute and specialist NHS trusts in England. The expansion to emergency departments aims to provide a critical new lifeline for patients, enabling earlier intervention and potentially saving lives.
The system is designed to empower patients and their loved ones to speak up when they sense something is wrong, ensuring that clinical deterioration is recognised and acted upon promptly. NHS England stated that the rollout will improve care and save more lives.
Martha's mother, Merope Mills, has campaigned for the rule since her daughter's death, advocating for a formal process that allows families to trigger an urgent clinical review. The expansion marks a significant step in patient safety across the NHS.
