Hospital patients can now demand second opinion

Martha Mills, 13, died of sepsis because her symptoms were missed

In-patients at East Surrey Hospital can now request an urgent review from a critical care team if they feel their worsening condition is not being addressed.

The hospital has implemented Call for Concern as part of Martha's Rule - an initiative to ensure concerns of patients and their families and friends are listened to.

Patients and their loved ones can phone a direct number or ask the operator for the Call for Concern team, who will review the patient, liaise with the clinical team and take any necessary action.

The service is available to adults admitted onto in-patient wards and will be rolled out to all patients at the hospital next year.

Dr Kofi Nimako, clinical lead for the project, said: “We know that friends and family can often see a patient’s deterioration before anyone else does.

"They will know what signs to look out for and can often spot when something is out of the ordinary.

"Our critical care outreach will act as the ‘fresh set of eyes’, working with ward teams to escalate appropriately and support patients and their family.”

Merope Mills campaigned for Martha's Rule after her daughter died from sepsis in 2021. An inquest found 13-year-old Martha could have survived with better care.

As part of Martha's Rule, NHS staff will be able to contact the critical care team with concerns for a patient, and clinicians will also formally record daily insights and information about a patient’s health directly from them or their families.

East Surrey and Frimley Park hospitals were chosen earlier this year to pilot the first phase of Martha's Rule, which will be complete by March.