Martha’s Rule Pilot Begins in Norfolk
In 2012, 13-year-old Martha Mills was admitted to Kings College London with a pancreatic injury having fallen off her bike. Whilst in Hospital she contracted an infection and over a period of 10 days her condition deteriorated. Despite her family raising concerns over her condition and that she was showing signs of sepsis and septic shock, their concerns were ignored and sadly Martha died on 31st August 2021. At the inquest held into her death, the coroner found that had Martha been transferred to intensive care, this probably would have saved her life.
Martha’s parents have campaigned for the implementation of Martha’s Rule, which will allow families to escalate their concerns should they feel that they are not being listened to by the treating clinicians.
Martha’s rule is currently being piloted in 16 hospitals across the country with Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, James Paget Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in King’s Lynn being included within the pilot.
The purpose of Martha’s rule is as follows:
- To provide an escalation process which is available 24/7 allowing families to contact a critical care outreach team who can assess and escalate care if necessary;
- Nurses and clinical staff will also have access to the same escalation process so they can also raise concerns over a patient’s condition; the critical care outreach team will be made up of clinicians who are not already involved in the patients care or treatment;
- Clinicians at the participating hospitals will also record daily insights and information from the patients’ families about the patients’ health, ensuring that any changes in the patient’s condition is considered.
The rule will be advertised to families on posters and leaflets throughout the hospitals providing information on how to escalate their concerns. Sadly, there are thousands of avoidable deaths in the NHS each year. Martha’s Rule is an empowering tool for patients and families and provides not only the right to request a review but the authority to do so, ensuring that they will be heard and hopefully lives will be saved in the future.
Rogers & Norton’s expert Clinical Negligence team are dedicated to achieving the best result for you. With the introduction of the Martha’s Rule pilot in Norfolk, it’s important to ensure you have the right support. We offer a free initial Clinical Negligence consultation and will agree on a fixed-fee structure, specifically designed for evidence-gathering and obtaining clinical expert reports. This approach enables a comprehensive assessment of your case’s prospects and accurate valuation of your claim.
For more information, visit our Clinical Negligence service pages or to arrange an appointment for a free initial discussion, please make an enquiry via our website, contact us by calling 01603 666001 or email enquiries@rogers-norton.co.uk.