Martha’s Rule to expand to all English A&E departments

Martha’s Rule NHS patient safety A&E expansion second opinion

NHS England is expanding Martha’s Rule to all accident and emergency (A&E) departments across England. The initiative allows patients, families, and healthcare staff to request an urgent clinical review via a dedicated helpline if they believe a patient’s condition is deteriorating and their concerns are not being addressed.

The policy was established following the 2021 death of 13-year-old Martha Mills from sepsis. A coroner determined she likely would have survived had she been moved to intensive care sooner at King’s College Hospital. Her parents, Merope Mills and Paul Laity, campaigned for the rule to ensure families have a voice in urgent care settings.

Previously implemented on inpatient wards and maternity/neonatal units, the scheme has already demonstrated impact. Official figures indicate that in the first 16 months of its introduction in 2024, the helplines received over 10,000 calls, potentially saving 446 lives by facilitating transfers to intensive care or ensuring necessary medication was administered. The full rollout to A&E departments is expected to be completed by March 2028.