Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has joined a new national NHS England initiative aimed at improving patient safety, and ensuring patients, families and carers’ concerns about deterioration are listened to and acted upon.
The trust has introduced the use of Martha’s Rule on its inpatient wards, with a major training programme being launched for frontline staff, and new processes introduced. Information for patients, families and carers has also been made available in ward areas.
Martha’s Rule is a national patient safety initiative. The purpose of the rule is to provide a consistent and understandable way for patients and families to seek an independent review if their or their loved one’s condition deteriorates, and they are concerned this is not being responded to.
Martha’s Rule was introduced nationally following the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills, a patient at NHS Kings College Hospital in 2021. After developing sepsis in hospital, concerns raised by family about her deterioration were not escalated. A coroner later concluded she would probably have survived with earlier intensive care escalation.
The project began in 2024 to implement Martha’s Rule in a rolling programme to NHS hospitals across the country. It supports, but does not replace, existing emergency processes.
Dr Tushar Mahahambrey, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Intensive Care Consultant and Medical Lead for Martha’s Rule said; “Implementing Martha’s Rule will help to empower patients, carers, families and staff to request a review if they believe a patient’s condition is worsening and they feel their concerns have not been addressed. We are proud to launch this initiative to enhance patient safety”.
Crissa Bege, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Martha’s Rule Clinical Lead added; “I’m proud to support with the introduction of Martha’s Rule, ensuring patients and families feel heard, empowered, and confident that their concerns will be acted up on.”
To find out more on Martha’s Rule see the national NHS page here