Your Voice Matters: Understanding ‘Martha’s Rule’ in Our Gloucestershire Hospitals

A close-up, poignant shot of two hands clasped together over a hospital bed cover, symbolizing support and advocacy, with a blurred healthcare professional working in the background.

At Home Instead Gloucester and the Forest of Dean, we believe that nobody knows a person better than their family and the dedicated Care Professionals who support them every day. Whether it’s a subtle change in appetite or a slight difference in how someone is breathing, those small “gut feelings” are often the most important signs that something isn’t quite right.

That is why we are so pleased to see that Martha’s Rule is now fully in place at our local hospitals, including Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General.

Martha’s Rule is a national patient safety initiative designed to give patients, families, and carers a clear, formal way to ask for an urgent “second look” if they feel a patient’s condition is deteriorating and their concerns aren’t being heard.

The rule is named after Martha Mills, a 13-year-old who tragically died from sepsis in 2021. Her family had raised concerns about her worsening health multiple times, but they weren’t acted upon quickly enough. Martha’s Rule ensures that, in the future, the voices of those who know the patient best are treated as a vital part of the medical team.

How It Works in Our Local Hospitals

If you are visiting a loved one in a Gloucestershire hospital and you notice they are becoming more confused, unusually sleepy, or just “not themselves”, the hospital team wants to know.

Who to Call at Gloucestershire Hospitals

The Trust has set up dedicated lines depending on who is being cared for:

  • For Adult Inpatients: Call 07976 071 450
  • For Children and Young People: Call 0300 422 2222 (and state you are making a referral under Martha’s Rule in paediatrics)
  • For Maternity: Call 0300 422 2222 (and state you are making a referral under Martha’s Rule in maternity)

When you call, a specialist team (such as the Acute Care Response Team) will review the situation—either by giving advice over the phone or by visiting the ward in person to assess your loved one.

For more information from the NHS, you can read their informative article on Martha’s Rule here.

An informational graphic for Martha’s Law with two steps on a cream background: 'Speak up' and 'Request a rapid review'. Under 'Speak up' there is a light orange megaphone outline on the left. Text on the right states, 'Your first step should always be to talk to the nurses or doctors on the ward. Tell them exactly what you have noticed.' The text for 'Request a rapid review' is written large below the first point. Further text explains: 'If you feel your concerns are not being addressed or you are still worried that your loved one is getting worse, you have the right to request a rapid review under Martha’s Law.'

At Home Instead, our Care Professionals are often the “eyes and ears” for families, and we see ourselves as partners in your loved one’s health journey. We know that being in a hospital environment can be overwhelming, and it can sometimes feel difficult to “bother” busy medical staff.

Martha’s Rule is a reminder that you are the expert on your loved one. Your input isn’t a bother—it is a potential lifesaver.

We welcome this change in our local hospitals, as it aligns perfectly with our own commitment to relationship-led care, where every individual is treated with the dignity, respect, and attention they deserve.

If you have a loved one currently in hospital and would like to discuss how Home Instead can support their transition back home once they are discharged, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Gloucester team.

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