Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has joined a new national NHS England initiative aimed at improving patient safety, ensuring that concerns from patients, families, and carers about deterioration are listened to and acted upon.
The trust has introduced Martha’s Rule on Stepping Hill Hospital’s inpatient wards. A major training programme has been launched for frontline staff, and new processes have been introduced. Information for patients, families, and carers has also been made available in ward areas.
What is Martha’s Rule?
Martha’s Rule is a national patient safety initiative. It provides a consistent and understandable way for patients and families to seek an independent review if they believe their or their loved one’s condition is deteriorating and their concerns are not being addressed.
Background of the Initiative
The 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 her 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 across NHS hospitals in England. It supports, but does not replace, existing emergency processes.
Local Implementation
Dr Tushar Mahambrey, 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 the introduction of Martha’s Rule, ensuring patients and families feel heard, empowered, and confident that their concerns will be acted upon.”
Stepping Hill Hospital is located in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
