Since its rollout in April 2024, Martha’s Rule has facilitated over 2,000 direct patient- or family-initiated requests for urgent clinical reviews, MPs heard last month.
Martha's Rule allows concerns about patient deterioration to be rapidly escalated for reassessment by a senior clinical team.
Early outcomes include:
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300+ documented improvements in care
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100+ transfers to intensive care units
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Enhanced early recognition of clinical deterioration
Dr. Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner, emphasised that the rule is not only empowering patients but also strengthening multidisciplinary responsiveness and decision-making.
Martha’s Rule was named after 13-year-old Martha Mills, whose preventable death from sepsis highlighted systemic failures in escalation pathways.
Source: The Guardian
