The policy builds on a pilot launched in April 2024 across 143 acute hospital sites, which received nearly 5,000 calls, leading to 241 interventions that may have saved lives. 

Why This Matters 

The rule is named after 13‑year‑old Martha Mills, who died from sepsis after her care failed to be properly escalated following concerns raised by her family. A coroner concluded that she would likely have survived if escalation had occurred—or earlier access to critical care teams had been possible. 

Her mother, Merope Mills, has been championing Martha’s Rule ever since. On what would have been Martha’s 18th birthday, she described the measure as fostering “a different, more equal kind of doctor‑patient relationship.”  

What the Rule Has Already Achieved 

The pilot data shows a significant impact—families and staff used the system to: 

  • Trigger changes in treatment, such as new antibiotics or medications. 
  • Address delays in investigations or treatment processes. 
  • Resolve issues with communication or discharge planning. 

Momentum is growing across the UK with the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, sharing the positive results: 

  • Wales is piloting a scheme called Call4Concern, with plans to cover all hospitals by the end of next year. 
  • Scotland is developing pilot programmes. 
  • Northern Ireland continues to observe and may act in the near future. 

 

Changing the Culture of Care 

Martha’s Rule doesn’t just give patients and families a voice. It also allows NHS staff involved in the patient’s care to seek a review from an independent team if they have any concerns, without needing permission from other team members.  This helps to create multiple layers of oversight and reinforces the principle that patient safety should always be the top priority.

Why It Matters to Us 

At Thompsons Solicitors, we’ve supported families whose concerns were ignored, with tragic consequences. We receive calls from family members with a loved one in hospital who are looking for any help they can to have their concerns about care listened to.  Martha’s Rule restores that voice when it matters most, giving them a voice in the moment by enabling us to direct those family members to the telephone helpline, and hopefully preventing the devastating consequences so many of our client’s come to us about. 

We believe Martha’s Rule is a vital step forward. It’s more than policy—it’s a reminder that every patient and family has the right to be heard, and when they raise concerns, they must be listened to. 

We’ll continue to support people affected by unsafe or negligent care and push for a healthcare system where everyone is heard—and everyone is treated with fairness and dignity. 

 

This article draws on reporting from BBC News