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“The latest NHS England figures revealed that in total, more than 12,000 (12,301) calls were made to Martha’s Rule helplines in the first 18 months of the scheme by staff, patients and families. 4,047 of these calls helped identify acute deterioration, which led to 2,310 patients receiving changes in treatment, and this includes 524 potentially life-saving interventions to transfer them to enhanced levels of care... The NHS is continuing to expand the lifesaving initiative to all acute adult and paediatric inpatient services in England.”
NHS England 1st May 2026
“Interventions such as MR are, by definition, complex. They involve multiple actors, interacting with and within existing systems and workflows, and must function across diverse organisational and patient contexts. In such circumstances, it is neither realistic nor desirable to specify all aspects of implementation in advance. Local testing, adaptation and variation are anticipated facets of implementation, and they are central to building a robust and usable evidence base over time…Accordingly, challenges in the early phases of implementation are to be expected.”
Marthas Rule Independent Evaluation Interim Report March 2026
“Martha’s Rule is already helping to save lives and transform the culture of the NHS .”
Dr Aidan Fowler, National Director of Patient Safety at NHS England March 2026
This conference brings together leading experts at the forefront of ensuring adherence to Martha’s Rule and offers a comprehensive and practical guide for clinical staff to seamlessly integrate Martha’s Rule into their daily practice. The conference delves into the caregiver’s perspective, principles and implications of Martha’s Rule, legal and patient safety considerations, effective communication strategies, and the use of technology in the adoption of Martha’s Rule. The 2026 six core Martha’s Rule core standards will be discussed and we will explore using the core standards to self-assess and obtain assurance on Martha’s Rule implementation or identify gaps for focused improvement.
“By setting out 6 core standards, this guidance describes what NHS providers should have in place for the safe, effective and reliable implementation of Martha’s Rule… Organisations should review each core standard to assess whether Martha’s Rule is implemented reliably and effectively.”
NHS England March 2026
The conference will also discuss the new approach to managing acute physical deterioration through the prevention, identification, escalation, response – PIER approach, which is currently being implemented.
“To ensure that Martha’s Rule is effective, it will be implemented alongside an integrated programme to improve the management of deterioration using ‘PIER’ resources, which helps systems to prevent, identify, escalate and respond to physical deterioration.”
NHS England
Throughout the day, there will be interactive sessions, small breakout groups, and collaborative exercises, fostering a dynamic learning experience.
“Martha’s Rule has now been included in the NHS Standard Contract. Service Condition 33: Patient Safety of the NHS Standard Contract 2026/27 requires all NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts to implement the 3 core components of Martha’s Rule by 31 March 2027.”
NHS England 2nd March 2026
This conference will enable you to:
Network with colleagues who are working to improve patient safety within the NHS
Reflect on the lived experience of a carer and the importance of empowering loved ones
Learn about the conceptual foundations and legal implications of Martha’s Rule in the NHS
Explore the 6 core standards for Martha’s rule and how they can be used for self assessment and improvement
Update delegates on the new national approach to managing acute physical deterioration through prevention, identification, escalation and response (PIER)
Understand the legal framework and ethical considerations surrounding Martha’s Rule to ensure compliance
Develop effective communication skills to articulate Martha’s Rule to patients and relatives
Learn how to foster a collaborative decision-making process between patients and clinicians
Implement best practices for creating a culture within their organisation to embrace Martha’s Rule
Apply interactive case studies to enhance practical understanding and application of Martha’s Rule
Support CPD professional development and provide revalidation evidence. This course provides 5 hours’ training for CPD, subject to peer group approval for revalidation purposes
