More than 1,000 NHS staff across England have accessed Martha’s Rule helplines to identify and address the rapid deterioration of a patient’s condition during the scheme's initial 18 months, according to new figures. Latest data released by NHS England indicates that a total of 1,781 calls were made by hospital staff to these dedicated helplines between September 2024 and February 2026.
Martha's Rule, which was introduced to enhance patient safety, establishes a clear process for patients, their families, and NHS staff to seek an urgent review if they are concerned about a patient's worsening state. The scheme operates on two levels: a 'Call for Concern' mechanism allows patients and their families to escalate worries, while the staff helplines provide an internal pathway for healthcare professionals to raise similar concerns when they feel a patient's condition is not being adequately addressed.
The significant number of calls from staff highlights the practical application of Martha's Rule within clinical settings. It suggests that healthcare professionals are actively utilising this new pathway to ensure patients receive prompt attention and intervention when their health declines unexpectedly. This proactive approach is crucial in preventing adverse outcomes and improving patient care.
The rule is named after Martha Mills, a 13-year-old who died in 2021 from sepsis after her family's concerns about her deteriorating condition were not acted upon. Her tragic death underscored the critical need for a more robust system to empower both families and staff to challenge medical decisions or escalate concerns when a patient's health is at risk.
The implementation of Martha's Rule across NHS trusts aims to standardise the process for escalating concerns, ensuring that a second clinical opinion or a rapid review can be obtained swiftly. This initiative is a vital component of the NHS's broader commitment to learning from past incidents and continuously improving patient safety protocols. For patients and their families, it offers reassurance that their concerns will be heard and acted upon.
While the figures demonstrate a healthy uptake by staff, the ultimate goal of Martha's Rule is to foster a culture where concerns are always listened to and acted upon promptly, ideally without needing to escalate through formal channels. However, the availability of these helplines provides a crucial safety net. Patients or their families who have concerns about a patient’s condition should always speak to a healthcare professional, or if they are unsure, contact NHS 111 for advice.
Source: NHS England