A patient safety initiative known as Martha’s Rule will now be introduced across all acute hospitals in England. The scheme, designed to give families a direct route to request urgent second opinions, was created in memory of 13-year-old Martha Mills, who died at King’s College Hospital in London after her parents’ concerns went unheard.

Since its pilot launch in April 2024, the dedicated helpline has logged almost 5,000 calls. NHS England figures show the service has already had a major impact, with 241 cases judged to have led to potentially life-saving changes. In many instances, calls resulted in new treatments, quicker investigations or the resolution of communication breakdowns between staff and relatives.

Martha’s mother, journalist Merope Mills, marked what would have been her daughter’s 18th birthday by welcoming the expansion. She described the data as proof of both the scheme’s effectiveness and the need for a “more equal doctor–patient relationship.” However, she emphasised the importance of extending the system beyond England, particularly in maternity services, where failures to listen to families have been repeatedly highlighted.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting praised the determination of Martha’s family and said he would share results with governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. While Wales is developing a similar programme, and Scotland is piloting local schemes, Northern Ireland has not yet committed to introducing the initiative. A full evaluation of Martha’s Rule is underway, with future plans to consider its use in mental health, community care and long-term treatment settings.