Martha's Rule rolled out at every A&E department in England

Key Takeaways

• Elliott Paterson, from Cheltenham, told the BBC he "truly believes" Martha's Rule saved the life of his 67-year-old father, Chris, who was treated at
• Elliott said his father's treatment in the surgical ward was complicated due to his Addison's disease, a rare autoimmune condition affecting the adren
• The family noticed Chris' deterioration in health, Elliott said, and called the critical care team, which was then able to treat both Chris' injuries
• "To hear that Martha's Rule is now to be rolled out across the NHS is brilliant news and I hope that for more people it will continue to save lives,"
• "I am incredibly fortunate and grateful to have had Martha's Rule at our disposal at the time

Elliott Paterson, from Cheltenham, told the BBC he "truly believes" Martha's Rule saved the life of his 67-year-old father, Chris, who was treated at Gloucester Royal Hospital last year after he broke four ribs falling off his bike.

Elliott said his father's treatment in the surgical ward was complicated due to his Addison's disease, a rare autoimmune condition affecting the adrenal glands.

The family noticed Chris' deterioration in health, Elliott said, and called the critical care team, which was then able to treat both Chris' injuries and his Addison's.

"To hear that Martha's Rule is now to be rolled out across the NHS is brilliant news and I hope that for more people it will continue to save lives," Elliott said.

"I am incredibly fortunate and grateful to have had Martha's Rule at our disposal at the time."

During an eight-month pilot of the scheme at seven emergency departments, 69 calls were made to dedicated Martha's Rule phone numbers, including some calls relating to acute deterioration following an urgent clinical review.

In some cases, it led to a patient having immediate surgery or being transferred to intensive care.

Fowler told the BBC's Today programme that, while these numbers might seem relatively small, the decision to roll out Martha's Rule further was "on a background of very, very extensive experience in other settings".

This included in-patient wards, where he said his teams had received "nearly 20,000 calls" - three quarters of which came from families.

Fowler said: "Early testing has shown that Martha's Rule can work well in busy A&Es and builds on the evidence from our adult and children's wards, where thousands of calls have been made by patients, families and staff to date, with many leading to changes in treatment and potentially life-saving interventions."

Questioned whether busy A&E staff might struggle with a sudden influx of calls, Fowler said this had not played out in the recent tests.

"Actually people have used it very sensibly," he added. "We've tested it through winter and across this busy summer, and therefore I am not concerned that when we roll this out we are going to be overwhelmed with calls."

Health minister Baroness Merron said the initiative was part of "wider efforts to put patient safety at the heart of the NHS".

Actor Jason Watkins, whose two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Maude died from sepsis in 2011, praised the rollout, saying Martha's Rule was already "making a difference on the wards".

"It enables a parent to have a voice and if there is an issue, that is addressed," he told BBC Breakfast, urging parents: "If you're at all worried when you go into A&E, ask for a second opinion."

Watkins said the rollout of Martha's law could benefit medical professionals too, explaining: "Those extremely dedicated medical practitioners, nurses, doctors and consultants, it gives them a pause and a thought [of] 'am I doing everything I can to assess this child accurately?'."

Before the phased rollout is completed in England, patients and their families can check with their local hospital or NHS trust where Martha's Rule is available by visiting the trust's website or asking hospital staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Martha's Rule rolled out at every A&E de?

The rule is named after 13-year-old Martha Mills, whose family's concerns about her care were not listened to before her death.

Originally reported by BBC News. Enhanced and optimized for search by TechVeb.