Patient safety
participating hospitals will also formally record daily insights and information about a patient’s health directly from their parents or families making sure any changes in behaviour or condition are noted by the people who know the patient best. NHS chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, commented: “Hearing about the heartbreaking loss of Martha and the experiences of her family has had a major impact for people right across the country, with parents, patients and NHS staff welcoming her parents’ call for a simple process to escalate concerns when they can see a loved one’s condition worsening. “NHS teams have been piloting ways to better identify and respond in these cases over the last year, and the roll-out of a national programme to give patients and families 24/7 access to a rapid clinical review will now help ensure that those experiencing acute deterioration can be identified and treated much more quickly. “I know I speak on behalf of all NHS staff when I thank Merope and Paul for their extraordinary campaigning and collaboration on this hugely important issue – while the need for escalation will hopefully only be needed in a small number of cases, I have no doubt that the introduction of Martha’s Rule has the potential to save many lives in the future.” Evaluation of the initial roll-out from at least 100 Trust sites during 2024/25 will inform proposals for Martha’s Rule to be expanded further across all acute hospitals, subject to government funding. NHS teams will also identify ways to roll out
an adapted Martha’s Rule model across other settings, including community and mental health hospitals, where the processes may not apply in the same way. Patient safety commissioner for England, Dr. Henrietta Hughes, said: “I’m delighted by this announcement in regard to Martha’s Rule. It’s a great step forward in the way that we listen to patients and families. “I would like to thank everyone for their
hard work in getting us to this point and I look forward to seeing the rollout across England.” NHS national medical director, Professor
Sir Stephen Powis, commented: “This new programme will make a real difference to not only the way staff can care for patients but also in ensuring parents and families have a clear pathway to raise any concerns about their loved one’s condition and seek a rapid clinical review, to ensure that tragic cases like that of Martha Mills are prevented in future. “Throughout this process we have worked
hard to ensure that the concerns of families and carers are right at the heart of this new system, because parents and their wider
family are uniquely able to spot the signs of a child getting sicker.”
NHS national patient safety director, Dr
Aidan Fowler, added: “I have worked closely with Martha’s parents, the patient safety commissioner, and colleagues across the NHS over the last year to identify how best to put Martha’s Rule into practice and it is excellent news that from April, more than a hundred hospitals across the country will have these processes in place to better involve parents and families in the care of their loved ones. “Better identification and management of
deterioration is one of our key priorities in improving patient safety and there is no doubt that around the clock access to a critical care team and the option of a rapid review, alongside existing measures such as our early warning systems, will have a significant impact on the
care patients receive.” The UK Sepsis Trust’s Founder & Joint CEO
Dr. Ron Daniels also welcomed the news that Martha’s Rule is to be rolled out nationally, commenting: “The themes highlighted by Martha’s case — of families feeling that they’re not being listened to — are common. While a second opinion is not the one and only solution — avoidable harm will continue to occur — it is an important part of the broader solution and will help to prevent many families enduring the same pain as Martha’s family.”
References 1. Accessed at:
https://demos.co.uk/wp- content/uploads/2023/08/Marthas-Rule_ finalversion.pdf
2. Accessed at:
www.england.nhs.uk/patient- safety/marthas-rule/
breathe difference
CSJ
loewensteinmedical.com
Löwenstein Medical UK Ltd, I E-Centre, Easthampstead Road, Bracknell RG12 1NF
t: 01344 830023 e:
info@loewensteinmedical.co.uk w:
loewensteinmedical.co.uk
April 2024 I
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com 43
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
