A new patient safety initiative, developed following the death of teenager Martha Mills, is being launched across Walsall Manor Hospital next week.
Martha’s Rule Call for Concern will be launched by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust on 4 November, across all inpatient areas.
The initiative, developed through NHS England allows patients, families, carers, advocates and NHS staff to request a rapid review from a critical care outreach team at any time if they have concerns about a patient’s condition.
The rule is named after Martha Mills who died aged 13 in 2021 from sepsis after her family’s concerns about her deteriorating condition were not addressed. A coroner later concluded that Martha, who had been taken to hospital following a fall from her bike, would likely have survived if she had been moved to intensive care earlier.
Martha’s Rule Call for Concern aims to ensure that patients and families can get a second opinion when they feel their concerns are not being addressed and a dedicated phone line has been established as part of this.
Amy Blakemore, Matron for the Trust’s Sepsis and Outreach Response Team (SORT) and ICU rehabilitation, said: “We’re proud to be launching Martha’s Rule Call for Concern here in Walsall next week and are busy raising awareness of the specific focus of this initiative.
“It’s important that our patients, their families and carers, feel comfortable and confident to raise their concerns with healthcare professionals around the deterioration of a loved one and feel assured they will be listened to.
“Martha’s parents Merope Mills and Paul Laity have worked tirelessly to bring about change since the death of their much-loved daughter and this initiative is key step in acknowledging the important interventions that can be made.”
Martha’s Rule Call for Concern is being rolled out across all adult inpatient areas initially and plans are being developed for paediatrics in the near future.
The SORT Team and ICU rehabilitation are setting up a stand near to Costa in the Manor Hospital to next Monday between 4pm and 7pm to start conversations with patients, visitors and staff about Martha’s Rule Call for Concern.