What is Martha’s Rule?
Martha’s Rule may include a review by the Critical Care Team. Sometimes small changes happen before they show in tests. These can be early warning signs. Martha’s Rule makes sure we listen to concerns and act on them.
It has three main parts
- Daily check-ins – a nurse will ask each day if you feel better, worse or the same.
- Staff can act quickly – any staff member can ask for a rapid review if they are worried.
- You can ask for help directly – patients, families and carers can contact a specialist team if they are still worried.
How we monitor patients
While someone is in hospital, we regularly check their vital signs and other important health measurements. The frequency of these checks will depend on the patient’s individual condition and needs. Sometimes we may need to wake patients to do these checks. In addition, we will ask at least daily if patients are feeling better or worse, to monitor any unexpected changes in their condition.
What to do if you’re worried
- First, speak to the team caring for you or your loved one.
- If, after speaking to the care team, you remain worried and feel your concerns are not being addressed, contact the Martha’s Rule team. You can call or send a WhatsApp message at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Martha’s Rule contact numbers
| Hospital | Phone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester Royal Infirmary | 07483 684 449 | Call or WhatsApp, 24 hours a day |
| Saint Mary’s Hospital (currently ward 62 only) | 07483 684 449 | Call or WhatsApp, 24 hours a day |
| Manchester Royal Eye Hospital | 07483 684 449 | Call or WhatsApp, 24 hours a day |
| North Manchester General Hospital | 07970 199 434 | Phone call only |
| Wythenshawe Hospital | 07780 931 775 | Call or WhatsApp, 24 hours a day |
| Trafford General Hospital | 07867 163 989 | Call or WhatsApp, 24 hours a day |
Your call will go to a different team in our hospital, who will work with your or your loved one’s care team to arrange any treatment needed or further review. A staff member will listen to you, ask a few questions, and decide what needs to happen next.
Please be ready to tell them
- The patient’s name
- The ward name
- What you are worried about
- What has been done so far
- Your contact details and your relationship to the patient
Martha’s Rule has not yet been rolled out in our Emergency Departments. For an emergency, call 999.
Our commitment
We will regularly ask for your views and take your concerns seriously. We see you as a partner in the care we are providing and want you to raise any worries and concerns you may have. We will explain what happens next and keep you updated.
Difference between Martha’s Rule and a second opinion
Martha’s Rule allows hospital inpatients and their families to seek a rapid review if they or their loved one is more poorly. A second opinion is when you would like to see another consultant to discuss any diagnosis or treatment.
About Martha
Martha Mills died in 2021 after developing sepsis in hospital, where she had been admitted with a pancreatic injury after falling off her bike. Martha’s family’s concerns about her deteriorating condition were not responded to, and in 2023 a coroner ruled that Martha, aged 13, would probably have survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.