Sepsis: The Silent Killer and Martha’s Rule 2025

Sepsis is all too often still the cause of death and severe disablement as a result of delays in diagnosis and treatment. Early detection is vital to a better outcome. Symptoms of Sepsis vary between adults and children.

Following the avoidable death of her 13-year-old child Martha from sepsis, Merope Mills campaigned for changes in the way in which families are listened to by medical staff and can raise concerns and escalate these outside of official channels.
NHS England explains, “Martha’s Rule is a major patient safety initiative providing patients and families with a way to seek an urgent review if their or their loved one’s condition deteriorates and they are concerned this is not being responded to.

The three components of Martha’s Rule are as follows:

• Patients will be asked, at least daily, about how they are feeling, and if they are getting better or worse, and this information will be acted on in a structured way.
• All staff will be able, at any time, to ask for a review from a different team if they are concerned that a patient is deteriorating and they are not being responded to.
• This escalation route will also always be available to patients themselves, their families and carers and advertised across the hospital.

Martha’s Rule will help improve both the quality and safety of care for patients whose condition is worsening. Better identification and management of deterioration is one of NHS England’s key priorities in improving patient safety.

The initiative will empower patients, families, carers and staff to ensure their concerns are listened to and acted upon. It will also empower staff to have the ability to raise concerns outside of official escalation channels and to ask for additional support if it’s required”.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/marthas-rule/

Amanda Cavanagh, a medical negligence specialist at Ashtons Legal, says: “This is a most welcome change to how families and parents are listened to by medics. No one knows their child better than a parent. With early detection and prompt treatment of sepsis, the outcome is much improved. If you are concerned about anyone, please don’t be afraid to ask if it could be sepsis and seek assistance, as noted above. This question may save a life”.

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