Patient safety initiative to expand under Martha’s Rule at Royal Surrey
Call 4 Concern service extended to additional facilities and patient groups
The Royal Surrey Hospital is expanding its Call 4 Concern patient safety initiative in light of Martha’s Rule.
The programme, initially piloted for adult inpatients at Guildford hospital, will now include adult patients at Milford Hospital, as well as paediatric and maternity service users.
Martha’s Rule was established after the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021.
Despite her family’s concerns about her worsening condition, a coroner’s ruling in 2023 found that earlier intervention could have saved her life.
The programme facilitates a clear escalation process, allowing staff, patients, carers, and family members to highlight concerns about patient deterioration.
Delivered by the Critical Care Outreach Team (CCOT), the service operates 24/7, offering an additional channel for concerns to be addressed promptly.
Caroline Munday, CCOT Lead, emphasised the importance of listening to families:
“We recognise that family members and carers can be among the first to spot signs of deterioration in a loved one’s condition, making it essential that their concerns are heard and acted upon."
If concerns arise, contacting the CCOT directly through Call 4 Concern is encouraged.
This additional measure ensures that care responses are prioritised based on urgency and necessary checks and assessments are made.
However, Call 4 Concern is not for general issues such as nursing care or complaints, which should be directed to ward staff or the Patient Advice and Liaison Service.
The initiative responds specifically to unresolved concerns about patient condition deterioration.