In a significant move toward improving hospital patient safety, some hospitals have recently implemented measures aimed at reducing medical errors and improving patient outcomes. These changes have been inspired by the tireless advocacy of the parents of Martha, a young girl who tragically passed away due to preventable errors in her care in 2021. The patient safety initiative is called “Martha’s rule”.

The three key components of Martha’s rule are:

  1. All staff in NHS trusts must have 24/7 access to a rapid review from a critical care outreach team, who they can contact should they have concerns about a patient.
  2. All patients, their families, carers, and advocates must also have access to the same 24/7 rapid review from a critical care outreach team, which they can contact via mechanisms advertised around the hospital, and more widely if they are worried about the patient’s condition.
  3. The NHS must implement a structured approach to obtain information relating to a patient’s condition directly from patients and their families at least daily. In the first instance, this will cover all inpatients in acute and specialist trusts.

The first phase of Martha’s Rule was implemented in April 2024. Hospitals that have embraced these trial measures are seeing promising results. The next stage of the process is to have 143 sites able to access the rapid review system 24/7 from March 2025. Lincoln County Hospital and Boston Pilgrim Hospital are joining the initiative at this time according to NHS England’s website.

While these changes are still in the trial phase, the early results are encouraging. We often speak with families who express concern about the care provided but feel they were not listened to. The hope is that these changes will eventually be adopted widely, reducing harm and saving lives.

The dedication to enforce changes to healthcare that has been shown by the parents of Martha has sparked important conversations and actions within the healthcare system, paving the way for a safer future for all patients.

We can help

If you need assistance or advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced medical negligence team at Ringrose Law. We handle all enquiries with sensitivity and discretion, ensuring your confidentiality is always protected. Let us help you navigate this challenging time.

For further information go to https://www.ringroselaw.co.uk/medical-negligence/