Martha’s Rule to be Introduced in Birmingham A&E Departments to Enhance Patient Safety

Martha’s Rule, a groundbreaking patient safety initiative, is set to be expanded to Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments across Birmingham and the West Midlands, signalling a significant advancement in patient care within the region.

This protocol provides patients and their families with a dedicated contact number, enabling them to request an urgent clinical review if they feel their concerns about a deteriorating health condition are not being adequately addressed. The introduction of this rule follows the heartbreaking death of 13-year-old Martha Mills, who succumbed to sepsis in 2021 after hospital staff failed to escalate her treatment and overlooked her family’s warnings.

Initially launched in April and May 2024, Martha’s Rule was implemented across 143 acute hospital sites in England during its first phase. Birmingham and West Midlands hospitals are now adopting the rule, with plans in place to extend it to A&E departments, including waiting areas, by March 2028.

Posters explaining Martha’s Rule and displaying the dedicated phone number are being placed on wards throughout hospitals to raise awareness among patients and carers.

The three key elements of Martha’s Rule for NHS patients in the region are:

Encouraging patients, families, and carers to voice concerns promptly if they suspect a health condition is worsening during a hospital stay.
Establishing clear procedures to ensure that these concerns are taken seriously and acted upon swiftly.
Providing a special telephone line to request a rapid review of the patient’s care by a different clinical team.

The NHS announced in September 2026 that Martha’s Rule would be introduced across all A&E departments. It is anticipated that the rule will be fully implemented in emergency, maternity, and neonatal units throughout the UK by March 2028.

During an eight-month pilot involving seven emergency departments, there were 69 calls made to Martha’s Rule lines. In several instances, these calls precipitated urgent interventions such as immediate surgery or transfers to intensive care, demonstrating the crucial role the rule can play in improving patient outcomes.