Martha’s rule to be expanded to all A&Es in England

Martha's rule, an initiative allowing patients and their families to request an urgent review if they have concerns about their condition, is being expanded to all emergency departments (A&E) in England. This policy is already operational in 221 acute adult and paediatric inpatient sites. It is currently being implemented in all maternity units in England. The rollout to emergency departments is expected by March 2028. The scheme is named after 13-year-old Martha Mills, who died from sepsis in an NHS hospital in 2021 after a pancreatic injury. During her care, her parents' concerns about her condition were not addressed. An inquest ruled that Martha could have survived had she been moved to specialist children's intensive care earlier. The hospital report identified at least five occasions when paediatric intensive care could have been involved.