{"id":1626,"date":"2025-06-20T10:11:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T10:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mft.nhs.uk\/trafford\/marthas-rule\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T07:30:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T07:30:17","slug":"marthas-rule","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mft.nhs.uk\/trafford\/patients-visitors\/i-need-support\/marthas-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"Martha&#8217;s Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-36522 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/mft.nhs.uk\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2025.03.01_Marthas-Rule_Marthas-Rule_logo-1024x456.png\" alt=\"Martha's Rule logo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"456\" \/>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;7&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>What is Martha\u2019s Rule?<\/h2>\n<p>Martha\u2019s Rule helps us notice early signs that someone may be deteriorating and gives you the right to request a rapid review if you\u2019re worried that your or your loved one\u2019s condition is getting worse.<\/p>\n<p>This may include a review by the Critical Care Team.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes small changes happen before they show in tests. These can be early warning signs. Martha\u2019s Rule makes sure we listen to concerns and act on them.<\/p>\n<h3>It has three main parts:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Daily check-ins \u2013 a nurse will ask each day if you feel better, worse, or the same.<\/li>\n<li>Staff can act quickly \u2013 any staff member can ask for a rapid review if they are worried.<\/li>\n<li>You can ask for help directly \u2013 patients, families and carers can contact a specialist team if they are still worried.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;7&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>How we monitor patients<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2019s individual condition and needs. Sometimes we may need to wake patients to do these checks.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, we will also ask at least daily if patients are feeling better or worse. This is to monitor any unexpected changes in their condition.[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;7&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>What to do if you\u2019re worried<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>First, speak to the team caring for you or your loved one<\/li>\n<li>If, after speaking to the care team, you remain worried and feel your concerns are not being addressed, contact the Martha\u2019s Rule team. You can call or send a WhatsApp message at any time (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text]<div class=\"c-highlight c-highlight--bordered\">\n    <\/p>\n<h3>Trafford General Hospital: 07867 163 989<\/h3>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n[vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Your call will go to a different team in our hospital, who specialise in the care of critically ill patients. They will work with your or your loved one\u2019s care team to arrange any treatment needed or further review.<\/p>\n<p>A staff member will:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Listen to you<\/li>\n<li>Ask a few questions<\/li>\n<li>Decide what needs to happen next<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Please be ready to tell them:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The patient\u2019s name<\/li>\n<li>The ward name<\/li>\n<li>What you are worried about<\/li>\n<li>What has been done so far<\/li>\n<li>Your contact details and your relationship to the patient<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;7&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Our commitment<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>We will explain what happens next and keep you updated.[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;7&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Difference between Martha\u2019s Rule and second opinion<\/h2>\n<p>Martha\u2019s Rule allows hospital inpatients and their families to seek a rapid review if their condition, or the condition of a loved one, is deteriorating.<\/p>\n<p>A second opinion is when you would like to see another consultant to discuss any diagnosis or treatment.[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;7&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>About Martha<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2019s family\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>For more information visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.england.nhs.uk\/patient-safety\/marthas-rule\/\">NHS website<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;7&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;7&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;] What is Martha\u2019s Rule? Martha\u2019s Rule helps us notice early signs that someone may be deteriorating and gives you the right to request a rapid review if you\u2019re worried that your or your loved one\u2019s condition is getting worse. This may include a review by the Critical Care Team. Sometimes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"parent":200,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1626","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Martha&#039;s Rule - Trafford General Hospital<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mft.nhs.uk\/trafford\/patients-visitors\/i-need-support\/marthas-rule\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Martha&#039;s Rule - Trafford General Hospital\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;7&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;] What is Martha\u2019s Rule? 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