Martha’s Rule Shows Early Success in Improving NHS Patient Safety

New NHS data reveals nearly one in eight calls under the scheme has led to life-saving care adjustments, prompting calls for nationwide implementation.

Martha’s Rule, introduced in 143 NHS hospitals in England, allows patients and families to request urgent reviews of care if concerns about deterioration are not addressed.
Early data from September and October 2024 shows that 573 calls were made, with 50% leading to critical care reviews and 20% resulting in changes to treatment or transfers to intensive care.
The initiative was inspired by the preventable death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021 due to sepsis after her family’s concerns were dismissed by doctors.
Martha’s mother, Merope Mills, has called for the scheme’s nationwide rollout, emphasizing its potential to save lives and improve medical culture within the NHS.
Healthcare leaders and patient advocates have praised the scheme as one of the most significant recent advancements in patient safety, with further expansion planned for 2025 and 2026.