Martha's rule may have saved 400 lives so far in England, figures show

"Helplines received 10,119 calls between September 2024 and December 2025 from patients, relatives or staff who were worried about care, the figures show. That led to 446 people receiving improvements to their care that may have saved their life. One in three calls (3,457) identified a rapid worsening of a patient's condition, helping raise the alarm more quickly and enable crucial interventions to be made."

"Martha's rule is named after Martha Mills, 13, who died in 2021 from sepsis after a bicycle accident. A coroner found she would probably have survived if she had been moved to the intensive care unit at King's College hospital in London when she began deteriorating. The initiative is the direct result of pressure put on politicians, NHS bosses and doctors after Martha's parents told the story of what happened to their daughter."

"The NHS England data shows 1,885 patients had their treatment changed as a result. In addition, about 6,000 calls had addressed clinical, communication or coordination concerns, which led to meaningful improvements in care or navigating the healthcare system for patients and their families, health officials said."

Martha's rule enables NHS patients to request care reviews and has demonstrated significant impact since its introduction in England in 2024. Helplines received 10,119 calls between September 2024 and December 2025, resulting in 446 people receiving life-saving care improvements. One-third of calls identified rapid patient deterioration, enabling timely interventions. Treatment changes occurred for 1,885 patients, while approximately 6,000 calls addressed clinical, communication, or coordination concerns. The scheme is named after Martha Mills, a 13-year-old who died from sepsis in 2021 after a bicycle accident; a coroner determined she would likely have survived with timely intensive care admission. The initiative now operates in every acute hospital in England.

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