‘Martha’s rule puts patients and families at the heart of their care’

MARTHA'S rule, which enables worried families and patients to seek a rapid second opinion, is to be introduced at every acute hospital in England.

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Hundreds of patients have benefited from potentially lifesaving changes to their care due to the scheme, which was set up after the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills. She developed sepsis while under the care of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in south London in 2021.

A coroner ruled she would most likely have survived if doctors had identified the warning signs of her rapidly deteriorating condition and transferred her to intensive care earlier. Martha’s parents, Merope Mills, an editor at the Guardian, and her husband Paul Laity, raised concerns about Martha's health several times but these were brushed aside.

‘The escalation process, which formalises access to a second opinion by experienced staff - mostly critical care outreach teams - is available 24/7 and advertised throughout hospitals.

Under the move, an urgent clinical review is carried out by a different team in the hospital if a patient’s condition is worsening and they or their family feels they are not getting the care needed. Staff can also ask for a review from a different team if they are concerned about a patient's treatment.