The NHS has announced that Martha’s Rule is now available in all 210 acute hospitals in England, following a successful first year that saw hundreds of patients benefit from life-saving changes to their care.
Between September 2024 and June 2025, over 4,900 calls were made to Martha’s Rule helplines, triggering 241 potentially life-saving interventions. The scheme empowers patients, families and staff to escalate concerns when they feel a condition is deteriorating but not being adequately addressed.
Martha’s Rule was introduced following the tragic death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021, who died from sepsis after her family’s concerns were not acted upon. A coroner later ruled that Martha would likely have survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.
Thanks to the campaigning efforts of Martha’s parents, Merope and Paul Mills, the NHS began rolling out the initiative in May 2024, starting with 143 pilot sites.
New NHS data shows:
- 71.9% of calls were made by families
- 720 calls led to changes in care, such as new medications
- 794 calls addressed clinical concerns like delays in treatment
- 1,030 calls resolved communication or discharge planning issues
Staff can also request reviews from other clinical teams if they feel appropriate action isn’t being taken.
NHS National Medical Director, Professor Meghana Pandit, said:
“There is no shadow of a doubt that Martha’s Rule is having a transformative impact on the way hospitals are able to work with patients and families to address deterioration or concerns about care.
“There have now been almost 5,000 calls made to the hotlines, with hundreds of potentially life-saving interventions triggered, which is why we are now expanding Martha’s Rule to all acute hospitals in England.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Merope and Paul who have campaigned tirelessly on this issue and continue to work with us to ensure Martha’s Rule is at the centre of our efforts to boost patient safety and quality of care.
“I also want to thank clinical staff up and down the country who have swiftly implemented this potentially lifesaving intervention and ensured it’s success”.
Hospitals have adopted consistent branding and materials, including posters, to ensure the service is clearly visible and easy to understand.
A full evaluation of Martha’s Rule is underway, with plans to expand the initiative to other healthcare settings. The programme is a cornerstone of the NHS’s commitment to patient safety, transparency, and empowering families to speak up.
Image credit: iStock
