Patients, families, and healthcare staff across England will soon have an easier way to request a second medical opinion through the expansion of Martha’s Rule into hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments. The initiative, which ensures 24-hour access to urgent clinical reviews, was created after the death of Martha Mills, a 13-year-old girl who died from sepsis in 2021 while being treated at King’s College Hospital in London. A coroner later concluded that earlier intervention, such as moving her to intensive care, could have saved her life. Her parents, Merope Mills and Paul Laity, said their repeated concerns about Martha’s worsening condition were ignored by medical staff. The National Health Service (NHS) is now rolling out Martha’s Rule, which was previously introduced in all inpatient hospital wards, to A&E departments. This expansion allows patients, families, and staff to call a dedicated helpline for an urgent assessment if someone’s health is deteriorating and they feel their concerns are not being addressed. The full rollout of the scheme is expected to be completed by March 2028. A trial involving seven hospital trusts tested the effectiveness of Martha’s Rule in emergency settings. During an eight-month pilot, 69 calls were made to the helpline, with some resulting in urgent surgery or transfers to intensive care, according to NHS England. Professor Aidan Fowler, national director of patient safety at NHS England, emphasized the importance of the initiative: “A&Es see some of our most vulnerable patients, so the ability to raise concerns about deterioration quickly and trigger a rapid review of care is essential.” He added that the expansion of Martha’s Rule into A&E departments would provide a critical new tool for patients, families, and staff to improve care and save lives. Early testing has shown that the scheme can function effectively in busy emergency departments, building on the positive results from adult and children’s wards where thousands of calls have already led to treatment changes and life-saving interventions. Health minister Baroness Merron highlighted that Martha’s Rule is designed to ensure patients and their loved ones are heard when they raise concerns about their care. Expanding the initiative to A&E departments will offer another way for patients, families, and staff to voice worries about worsening conditions, ensuring concerns are addressed promptly. This move is part of broader efforts to prioritize patient safety within the NHS. Hospitals are also expected to extend Martha’s Rule to maternity and neonatal units by March 2028. Recent data shows the highest monthly total of calls made through Martha’s Rule in July 2026, with 1,678 calls recorded.