NHS set to introduce Martha’s Rule in April

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has announced its plan to roll out “Martha’s Rule” in an effort to help trigger urgent clinical reviews in hospitals across England from April

Set to start in April, this initiative, named after 13-year-old Martha Mills, aims to authorise patients and their families to seek urgent reviews if they notice a deterioration in their condition while receiving care.

What is the Martha rule?

The Martha rule stems from when Martha Mills passed away after being admitted to King’s College Hospital, London, due to injuring her pancreas while riding her bike. She later developed sepsis while in a hospital.

Her death was put down to failing to escalate her care or intensive care despite concerns raised by her family regarding her worsening condition.

Since then, Martha’s parents, Merope Mills and Paul Laity, alongside support from the cross-party think tank Demos, have continuously campaigned for a streamlined process allowing patients or their families to trigger urgent clinical reviews in these circumstances.

24/7 rapid review access

Under Martha’s Rule, patients and families will have round-the-clock access to rapid review from an independent critical care team if they feel their condition is rapidly deteriorating and require immediate attention. This will be available 24/7 and prominently advertised within hospitals to ensure easy accessibility.

The NHS chief, Amanda Pritchard, called the program potentially life-saving, acknowledging Martha’s family for their impactful campaigning and collaboration in improving patient care standards.

When will the initiative start?

The initiative has already undergone successful piloting through NHS England’s Worry and Concern pilots at seven trusts last year, refining the escalation methods for patients’ and families’ concerns.

A vital aspect of the Martha Rule is the formal recording of daily insights and information about a patient’s health directly from their parents or family, ensuring that any changes in behaviour or condition are properly reported by those who know the patient best.

Participating hospitals will receive government funding for educational materials, including posters and leaflets, informing patients and families about their ability to request a rapid treatment review from a critical care team.

Patient safety within the NHS

The introduction of Martha’s Rule aligns with broader efforts to improve patient safety within the NHS. It completes the rollout of the Paediatric Early Warning System, which enables clinicians to track potential deterioration in children by formally recording changes in vital signs. These initiatives highlight the NHS’s commitment to using data and fostering greater patient, family, and carers involvement in healthcare services.

While Martha’s Rule has widespread support, it will be carefully monitored, as highlighted by the British Medical Association (BMA). The BMA emphasises the importance of ensuring that the implementation of Martha’s Rule is closely monitored before its full-scale adoption.

Martha’s Rule represents a significant step forward in prioritising patient safety within the NHS. This initiative aims to prevent avoidable tragedies like Martha’s by empowering patients and their families to advocate for their well-being and ensuring prompt clinical reviews in cases of deterioration.