Martha’s Rule was introduced by NHS England in April 2024 after the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021, who developed sepsis in hospital following a pancreatic injury. A coroner later ruled she would likely have survived had she been moved to intensive care sooner, after her family’s concerns about her deterioration went unheeded. Following campaigning by her mother, Merope Mills, the rule now gives patients, families, carers and staff round-the-clock access to a rapid review from a critical care outreach team if they’re worried a patient is deteriorating and feel unheard. It has three parts: daily structured check-ins with patients about how they’re feeling, 24/7 staff access to an outreach team, and the same 24/7 access for patients and families.
Led by the NIHR Central London Patient Safety Research Collaboration (based at UCLH) and delivered by SafetyNet, the network of all six NIHR Patient Safety Research Collaborations, the evaluation combines national data analysis (deterioration rates, escalations, ICU admissions, mortality) with in-depth qualitative work at 16 trusts — observations, interviews, and case studies. A central aim is equity: whether the rule works as well for people with communication difficulties, cognitive impairment, language barriers, or from underserved communities as for everyone else. Health economists will also assess value for money. Patients and families with lived experience of harm are involved as equal partners, not just research subjects.
Dr Matt Cooper is leading for the North East (Newcastle PSRC) and reflected on the award: “This is a fantastic opportunity for a cross-country, collaborative evaluation of a vital pathway across our NHS. This work will ensure that we support the implementation and effectiveness of Marthas Rule in the future.”
The North East team from Newcastle PSRC includes – Dr Matt Cooper, Professor Annette Hand and Lauren Lawson. (pictured left to right)
Read the full announcement on the SafetyNet website at the following link: SafetyNet | Martha’s Rule Summative Evaluation | NIHR PSRC Network