MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE PATIENT SAFETY
MARTHA’S RULE changes Patient Safety in England
A sweeping change to Patient Safety in England called Martha’s Rule is now available in every acute hospital across England marking a pivotal movement for the NHS and the families its serves. The initiative named after 13 year old Martha Mills who tragically died from sepsis in 2021 after her parents’ concerns were repeatedly dismissed is designed to empower Patients and their families to seek urgent second opinions when they fear something is amiss with care.
The roll out has not gone unnoticed at the highest levels of Government in England. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told media “No family should ever have to go through what Merope and Paul Mills endured when they lost Martha but her parents tireless campaigning has created a lasting legacy and that the government is delivering on their promise through their plan for change to rebuild trust in the NHS and put Patient Safety first”.
The campaigns impacts have had calls for further expansion. Merope Mills, speaking to media, urged the government to extend Martha’s Rule into maternity care. Ms. Mills emphasised that Martha’s Rule acts as a safety net not just for Patients but also for doctors allowing concerns to be raised and addressed without fear “it is a safety net for doctors and clinical staff as much as it for a Patient”, Ms. Mills added.
Dr. Aidan Fowler, National Director of Patient Safety in England, confirmed that the government is already exploring how to pilot Martha’s Rule in maternity settings. “We will be piloting it in maternity. It is a more complex area, not only can people giving birth deteriorate physically, but we have their babies that might deteriorate so we have got to make sure the right people respond” he explained to media. The need for reform is urgent and national investigation into systemic failures in NHS, Maternity Care was launched in June 2025.
Martha’s Rule stands as a testament to the power and persistence, the importance of listening and the enduring impact of one family’s loss. The hope is that, honouring Martha’s memory, countless other lives will be safeguarded and that the culture of care within the NHS will shift towards one where every voice, no matter how small, is heard.
Advocating for Implementation in Ireland
While Martha’s Rule is currently specific to the NHS, its core principle is universally applicable. It offers a clear blueprint for Irish health leaders seeking to improve patient safety and restore public trust.
Whelan Law firmly believes that adopting similar, patient-led rapid review mechanisms is essential to ensuring that the voice of the patient is heard when it matters most, reducing the risk of deterioration and avoidable deaths across the Irish healthcare system.
For more detailed insights into how the Patient Safety Act 2023 impacts you and how Whelan Law can support you, please visit our Patient Safety Rights Legal Advice https://www.whelanlaw.ie/news/medical-negligence-and-patient-safety/