NHS England has confirmed that Martha's Rule will be expanded to all hospital A&E departments and waiting rooms across England, with the phased roll-out due to be completed by March 2028. The initiative, designed to boost patient safety for some of the most vulnerable patients, will allow patients, loved ones and staff in busy emergency departments to call a dedicated Martha's Rule phone number to trigger an urgent review if a patient's condition is deteriorating and they are concerned this is not being listened to.
Expansion to all emergency departments
The move extends the existing programme, which has already been rolled out to 221 acute adult and paediatric inpatient sites, with rollout expected to be completed in 2026/27. Hospitals are also expected to extend Martha's Rule to A&E, maternity and neonatal units by March 2028 as part of the phased implementation.
Professor Aidan Fowler, National Director of Patient Safety at NHS England, said: “A&Es see some of our most vulnerable patients, so the ability to raise concerns about deterioration quickly and trigger a rapid review of care is essential.”
Early testing shows positive results
Professor Fowler highlighted the impact the initiative is already having, stating: “Martha's Rule is already having a transformative effect in making our acute care even safer, and by expanding Martha's Rule into A&Es, we are giving even more patients, their families and NHS staff a critical new lifeline to help improve care and save more lives.”
He added: “Early testing has shown that Martha's Rule can work well in busy A&Es and builds on the evidence from our adult and children's wards, where thousands of calls have been made by patients, families and staff to date – with many leading to changes in treatment and potentially life-saving interventions.”
Government backs patient safety measure
Health and Social Care Minister Baroness Merron said: “Martha's Rule is about making sure patients and their loved ones are heard when they raise concerns about their care. Expanding it to A&E will give patients, families and staff another way to speak up when they are worried that someone's condition is getting worse, ensuring concerns are acted on quickly.”
Baroness Merron added: “This is part of our wider efforts to put patient safety at the heart of the NHS.”
The expansion means that by March 2028, all hospital A&E departments and waiting rooms in England will have the dedicated Martha's Rule phone number available, providing a critical new lifeline for patients, families and NHS staff to improve care and save more lives.
