Stockport NHS Foundation Trust adopts Martha’s Rule to support patient safety

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has introduced the use of Martha’s Rule on its inpatient wards, with a major training programme and new processes being launched for frontline staff.

The national NHSE initiative aimed at improving patient safety, and ensuring patients, families and carers’ concerns about deterioration are listened to and acted upon. The purpose of Martha’s Rule is to provide a consistent and understandable way for patients and families to seek an independent review if they or their loved one’s condition deteriorates, and they are concerned this is not being responded to.

Martha’s 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 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 to NHS hospitals across the country.  It supports, but does not replace, existing emergency processes.

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 with the introduction of Martha’s Rule, ensuring patients and families feel heard, empowered, and confident that their concerns will be acted up on.” 

Photo: (L) Clinical lead, Crissa Bege; and (R) Medical Lead, Tushar Mahambrey, at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust‘s Martha’s Rule launch.