Hospital applies to trial Martha's Rule

Barnsley Hospital

Barnsley Hospital has applied to allow patients to request an urgent review if they or their family feel they are not receiving the necessary care or their condition deteriorates.

The new process enables patients and their family to request an urgent review by a different critical care team in the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It follows the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021, who died after failures in her treatment for Sepsis at King's College Hospital in London.

The process, known as Martha's Rule, is expected to be expanded across all acute hospitals, subject to government funding.

At least 100 NHS sites will use the initiative in a trial due to start by the end of April, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A spokesperson for Barnsley Hospital said: “Barnsley Hospital recognises the implementation of Martha’s Rule is an important step forward.

"The hospital has submitted an expression of interest to NHSE to be one of the first 100 hospitals to roll out Martha’s Rule and is waiting to hear the outcome of that submission."

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: "While the need for escalation will hopefully only be needed in a small number of cases, I have no doubt that the introduction of Martha’s Rule has the potential to save many lives in the future.”

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins described Martha’s death as a "terrible tragedy".

"This will give vital reassurance that the best care possible is being given," she added.