Martha’s Rule: Families welcome right to challenge A&E care

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust was the first in the South West to pilot Martha’s Rule in its emergency departments at GRH and Cheltenham General Hospital.

A trust spokesperson said patient, family and carer voices were vital in recognising deterioration.

“Our commitment is to listen and respond to concerns and Martha’s Rule provides a tool for us to enhance this by focussing on anything worrying the patient or family.

“We are pleased our patients have used Martha’s Rule appropriately for clinical matters,” they said, which has happened eight times since January 2026.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is another to have begun piloting Martha’s Rule at its emergency departments at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and Yeovil District Hospital.

Jayne Cooper, the trust’s deputy chief nurse, said: “Our approach is… about continuing to develop a culture where patients and families feel confident to raise concerns, colleagues feel supported to escalate issues when needed and clinical teams have clear pathways to respond appropriately and promptly.”

Health Innovation West of England, which is supporting all acute NHS hospital trusts in the region to implement Martha’s Rule, said 30% of calls nationally related to acute deterioration and had led to changes in treatment or enhanced levels of care.

The remainder of calls had led to conversations about concerns relating to things like medication, the management of long-term conditions and discharge planning.