What is Martha's rule? Right to second opinion is improving healthcare, data shows
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Martha’s rule - a law to protect patients - has had a “transformative effect”, recent data has shown. Medical experts said they have been greatly encouraged to see the difference it has made to caregiving in hospitals since its introduction in a number of hospitals over 2024.
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The data shows doctors and nurses have changed how they care for dozens of very sick patients since its introduction. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said: “The introduction of Martha’s rule represents one of the most important changes to patient care in recent years, and we are really encouraged to see the impact it is already having for patients in this first phase.”.
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NHS England data has shown the law has led to 573 calls, across the 143 hospitals using it, in which someone has sought an urgent review. About half (286) have prompted an urgent review by critical care staff. And about one in five of those reviews – 57 cases – has led to the person’s care being escalated, for example by being given potentially life-saving antibiotics or other drugs.
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During September and October alone, 14 patients were transferred to intensive care after Martha’s rule was deployed. The law is named after Martha, age 13, who died of sepsis after doctors failed to admit her to intensive care. The rule enables patients, families and carers to request a second opinion from senior medics in the same hospital in the event of a suspected deterioration or serious concern.
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