George Eliot Hospital launches Martha’s Rule – Call for Concern service

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust is proud to announce the official launch of Martha’s Rule – Call for Concern, a dedicated patient safety service giving patients, families and carers an additional way to raise urgent concerns about a deteriorating condition if they feel these concerns are not being fully addressed.

This service has been introduced following a successful pilot on two wards since the start of the year, and forms part of a wider national patient safety initiative led by NHS England.

Martha’s Rule is designed to ensure that changes in a patient’s condition are recognised and acted upon quickly, giving individuals and loved ones a clear, accessible route to request a rapid review from a clinical team outside the direct care team when they are worried about deterioration.

“We are committed to ensuring the voices of patients and their families are heard and acted upon,” said Dr Naj Rashid, Chief Medical Officer at George Eliot Hospital.

“You know yourself and your loved ones, better than anyone, and may be first to notice subtle changes that suggest your or their condition is deteriorating. Such as a change in behaviour, breathing, or responsiveness.

“Allowing these concerns to be escalated promptly can make a vital difference. The successful pilot here demonstrated the value of this service, and we are delighted to launch it fully to support patient safety across our hospital.”

Martha’s Rule enables patients, or their representatives, to contact a dedicated clinical response team, the Critical Care Outreach Team, whenever a concern about a patient’s worsening condition continues after discussions with the usual ward team.

The service provides access to senior clinicians who can rapidly assess and advise on the next steps. It is intended solely for concerns about clinical deterioration and is not a complaints process for issues such as food, parking or general hospital services.

Martha’s Rule was developed in response to the tragic death of Martha Mills, a 13-year-old who died from sepsis in hospital after her family’s concerns about her deteriorating condition were not acted upon. A coroner later determined that Martha might have survived with an earlier escalation of care, a finding that has shaped this national effort to put patient and family insight at the heart of clinical safety.

Across England, early data from hospitals that piloted the scheme shows that Martha’s Rule has already helped patients and their families seek timely reviews of care and has contributed to improved outcomes. NHS England continues to support its implementation nationwide as part of a broader strategy to improve the detection and response to patient deterioration.

Patients, relatives, carers, and hospital staff are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Call for Concern pathway and use it when there is genuine worry about clinical deterioration that has not been adequately addressed through normal channels.

For more information about how to use Martha’s Rule – Call for Concern at George Eliot Hospital, please click here or speak with ward staff.