What is Martha's Rule?
Our trust is introducing Martha's Rule, a vital patient safety initiative that gives healthcare staff, patients and their families a clear pathway to raise concerns about rapid deterioration.
Our trust rolled out Martha’s Rule in phases from Wednesday 1 October 2025 on London Irish ward and Duke of Gloucester ward.
We have introduced Martha’s Rule to help spot any unexpected signs of deterioration early and give you the right to request a rapid review if you’re worried that your or your loved one’s condition is getting worse.
You may notice small changes before they show up in our routine measurements. These changes could be early warning signs of deterioration.
What to do if you're worried
- First, speak to the team caring for you or your loved one
- If, after speaking to the care team, you remain worried and feel your concerns are not being addressed, call for a rapid review. Phone: 07345 491317
Your call will go to a different team in our hospital, who specialise in the care of critically ill patients. All telephone calls to this number will be assessed and, where appropriate, a member from our Acute Intervention Team will visit the patient on the ward to ensure they are receiving the suitable treatment and support. They will work with your or your loved one's care team to arrange any treatment needed or further review.
The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Difference between Martha’s Rule and second opinion
Martha’s Rule allows hospital inpatients and their families to seek a rapid review if their condition, or the condition of a loved one, is deteriorating.
A second opinion is when you would like to see another consultant to discuss any diagnosis or treatment.
Martha Mills
Martha Mills died in 2021 after developing sepsis in hospital, where she had been admitted with a pancreatic injury after falling off her bike. Martha’s family’s concerns about her deteriorating condition were not responded to, and in 2023 a coroner ruled that Martha, aged 13, would probably have survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.