Hundreds of lives have been saved across every acute hospital in England following the roll-out of Martha’s Rule, new figures have confirmed.

This crucial new system empowers patients with the right to request a second medical opinion, a mechanism designed to intervene when a patient's health is rapidly deteriorating and concerns are not being adequately addressed.

Martha’s Rule is named after Martha Mills, a 13-year-old girl who tragically died from sepsis in 2021, a month after a fall from her bike during a family holiday in Wales.

A coroner's report found that Martha would likely have survived if she had been promptly referred to the intensive care unit at King’s College Hospital, London, when her health declined.

Her parents, Merope Mills and Paul Laity, relentlessly campaigned for this initiative after their concerns about Martha's deteriorating condition were not fully recognized by her medical team, who later admitted they were 'not given the full picture'.

Martha died from sepsis, a severe immune system overreaction to infection, following a pancreatic injury.

The guidance for Martha’s Rule was initially launched in April 2024 and expanded in September 2024 to encompass 210 intensive care facilities, including all 143 acute hospitals across England.

During the first 16 months of its expanded implementation, a significant 10,119 calls were made to the Martha’s Rule helplines.

These calls originated from worried patients, their relatives, and even staff members concerned about medical treatment.

This intervention led to thousands of patients being moved into intensive care, receiving crucial medications, or experiencing a change in their care plan, directly resulting in 446 lives being saved.

The data highlights the invaluable role of patient advocates, with 7,286 calls, or 72 percent, coming from concerned family members or carers.

Furthermore, over one-third of all calls, totaling 3,457, specifically related to a rapid worsening of health, termed ‘acute deterioration’.

As a direct result of these calls, the treatment for nearly half of these patients (1,885) had to be modified. More than 6,000 calls addressed broader clinical, communication, or coordination issues.

The number of calls to the helplines has more than doubled since June of last year, reflecting the ramped-up rollout and increasing public awareness.

Martha’s mother, Ms. Mills, has underscored the initiative's success, stating that the gathered data clearly demonstrates its profoundly positive effect.

She noted that beyond the lives saved, over a third of calls have led to marked improvements in care, indicating that the process is not being overused and has successfully met a genuine need by empowering patients and families.

Patients at hospitals implementing the rule benefit from 24/7 access to a dedicated team of critical care doctors and nurses, who can swiftly assess a patient whose health is deteriorating.

Dr. Aidan Fowler, National Director of Patient Safety at NHS England, praised the initiative, confirming that Martha's Rule is already saving lives and transforming NHS culture, with its ability to help the NHS listen more effectively to families and respond promptly to concerns.

Looking ahead, there are calls for Martha's Rule to be thoroughly implemented in maternity departments and for its rapid introduction in Wales and Scotland, expanding its life-saving reach.

The extensive list of NHS hospitals currently participating in the Martha's Rule roll-out includes:

Addenbrooke's Hospital, Watford General Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Colchester Hospital, Bedford Hospital, Southend Hospital, Basildon Hospital, Broomfield Hospital, Peterborough City Hospital, Lister Hospital, West Suffolk Hospital, Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, James Paget University Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Norwich University Hospital, Ipswich Hospital.

Also, University Hospital Lewisham, The Royal Marsden Hospital, Chelsea, The Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Croydon University Hospital, St Georges Hospital, Barnet Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, North Middlesex University Hospital, University College Hospital, Kingston Hospital, Kings College Hospital (Denmark Hill Site), Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, West Middlesex University Hospital, Northwick Park Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, Hillingdon Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital, Newham University Hospital, Homerton University Hospital, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital, Royal London Hospital.

The Whittington Hospital, Ealing Hospital, Northampton General Hospital, Kettering General Hospital, Royal Stoke University Hospital, New Cross Hospital, Manor Hospital, Pilgrim Hospital Boston, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Solihull Hospital, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Russell's Hall Hospital, Sandwell General Hospital and City Hospital (two sites), Glenfield Hospital, Kings Mill Hospital, Kettering General Hospital, University Hospital Coventry, Lincoln County Hospital, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital.

Additionally, Sheffield Childrens Hospital, Barnsley Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital, South Tyneside District General Hospital, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, York Hospital, Cumberland Infirmary, University Hospital of North Durham, Bishop Auckland Hospital, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, Freeman Hospital, James Cook University Hospital, Darlington Memorial Hospital, West Cumberland Hospital, Pinderfields Hospital, Calderdale Royal Hospital, Leeds General Infirmary, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Airedale General Hospital, St James's Hospital, Countess of Chester Hospital, Wirral University Teaching Hospital, Royal Liverpool University, Southport District General Hospital, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General Hospital, Royal Bolton Hospital, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

It also includes Alder Hey Childrens Hospital, The Walton Centre, Leighton Hospital, Warrington Hospital, Preston and Chorley Hospitals, Royal Blackburn Hospital, Tameside General Hospital, The Christie, Royal Oldham Hospital, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan, St Mary's Hospital, Frimley Park Hospital, Wexham Park hospital site, Darent Valley Hospital, The Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Maidstone Hospital, Southampton Children's Hospital, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Conquest Hospital, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital, Medway Maritime Hospital, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, QEQM Hospital, Margate, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Basingstoke North Hampshire Hospital, East Surrey Hospital, Southampton General Hospital, Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Finally, Great Western Hospital, Salisbury District Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Dorset County Hospital, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Poole Hospital, Torbay Hospital, Derriford Hospital, Musgrove Park Hospital, Yeovil District Hospital, Weston General Hospital, Southmead Hospital, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Royal United Hospital, Bath, and Treliske Site - Royal Cornwall Hospital are all participating in the initiative.