The critical care team at The Royal Oldham Hospital has launched Martha’s Rule, a patient safety initiative that allows patients, families, carers, and colleagues to raise concerns about a patient’s deterioration.
The launch is part of an NHS England pilot that will see learnings form part of the national roll-out. The initiative was created in response to the death of Martha Mills, after her family expressed concerns about her decline and were not heard.
Redmond Tully, The Royal Oldham Hospital clinical director for intensive care medicine and lead for Martha’s Rule said: “We are proud to be a pilot site for Martha’s Rule so that we can deliver the most reliable care to our patients. It is important that we listen to any concerns regarding care from those who know the patient the best. We can then take action to ensure that they get the best possible outcome.
“As part of the launch of Martha’s Rule at Oldham we are raising awareness of how concerns can be escalated. We have a HELPline available for patients, families and carers and how to access this is visible at the hospital.
“Staff have also been briefed on the process and how they too can raise any concerns about a patient’s condition outside.”
Any cases escalated, will be reviewed by an independent critical care outreach team.
For more information visit the NHS England Website
Your guide to Martha’s Rule
What is Martha’s Rule?
It is a patient safety initiative related to the management of patent deterioration.
When is it being rolled-out?
Oldham is one of 143 pilot sites from across the country. Martha’s Rule is being launched at Oldham critical care from March 2025.
The plan is to roll-out Martha’s Rule at a national level once the pilots have been completed.
Who does it impact?
It will empower patients, families, carers and colleagues to raise concerns regarding the deterioration of a patient and seek an urgent review.
Martha's Rule is different to a second opinion.
What do we need to know about Martha’s Rule?
There are three components to Martha’s Rule
- Patients will be asked, at least daily, about how they are feeling, and if they are getting better or worse, and this information will be acted on in a structured way.
- All staff will be able, at any time, to ask for a review from a different team if they are concerned that a patient is deteriorating, and they are not being responded to.
- This escalation route will also always be available to patients themselves, their families and carers and advertised across the hospital.