Martha's Rule has been introduced in every accident and emergency (A&E) department in England, named after 13-year-old Martha Mills whose family say their concerns about her care were not listened to before she died.
The measure is intended to change how emergency departments respond when relatives or carers raise worries about a patient’s condition. It aims to ensure those concerns trigger a timely review so that potential problems are identified and addressed more quickly.
Health leaders say the nationwide rollout makes the practice standard across all A&E units, embedding a formal route for families’ voices to prompt clinical reassessment. Supporters of the move argue it provides a clear safeguard for patients when those closest to them feel something is seriously wrong.
Campaigners and some bereaved families have long pressed for changes after a series of high-profile cases in which relatives said their concerns were ignored. The introduction of Martha's Rule is presented as part of wider efforts to strengthen patient safety and improve trust between families and emergency care teams.
Hospitals will need to adapt their local procedures to implement the measure consistently, and staff training and communication processes are likely to be reviewed to ensure it functions in practice. Observers say monitoring will be important to assess whether the rule changes outcomes for patients and helps prevent further avoidable harm.