Martha’s Rule expands to A&E departments in England
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Families and healthcare workers in England will soon have easier access to second opinions in emergency rooms as NHS England extends Martha’s Rule to A&E departments.
The initiative began after 13-year-old Martha Mills died in 2021 after developing sepsis while under the care of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London. A coroner determined Martha might have survived if she had received intensive care sooner, and her parents noted their concerns about her condition were dismissed.
Martha’s Rule guarantees a 24-hour response to requests for urgent clinical reviews. Currently being implemented in inpatient wards, the expansion to A&Es will allow patients, families, and staff to contact a dedicated helpline when they believe a patient’s health is rapidly declining and their concerns aren’t being addressed. A pilot program across seven hospital trusts saw 69 calls made to the Martha’s Rule helpline over eight months, leading to urgent surgery or intensive care for some patients.
NHS England plans to complete the rollout to all A&E departments, as well as maternity and neonatal units, by March 2028. In July 2026, the rule received a record 1,678 calls.
