More than 400 lives may have been saved as a result of Martha’s government allowing NHS patients to request a review of their care, official figures reveal.
Helplines received more than 10,000 calls in the first 16 months of the scheme after it was introduced in England in 2024, according to data seen by The Guardian. Thousands of patients were moved to intensive care, received needed medications, or benefited from other changes as a direct result of the calls.
The system is named after 13-year-old Martha Mills, who died in 2021 from sepsis after a bicycle accident. A coroner found she would probably have survived if she had been moved to the intensive care unit at King’s College London hospital when she began to deteriorate.
Martha’s Period helplines received 10,119 calls between September 2024 and December 2025 from patients, relatives or staff who were concerned about care, figures show. That led to 446 people receiving improvements in their care that could have saved their lives.
One in three calls (3,457) identified a rapid worsening of a patient’s condition, helping to raise the alarm more quickly and allowing crucial interventions to be made. Data from NHS England shows that 1,885 patients had their treatment changed as a result.
Additionally, about 6,000 calls addressed clinical, communication or coordination concerns, leading to “significant improvements” in care or navigating the health care system for patients and their families, health officials said.
The initiative is a direct result of pressure put on politicians, NHS bosses and doctors after Martha’s parents, Merope Mills and Paul Laity, told the story of what happened to their daughter, who would have turned 18 last September had she lived.
Martha’s rule now applies to all acute hospitals in England.
Mills, senior editor at the Guardian, said: “The more data is collected, the clearer it becomes that Martha’s government is having a hugely positive effect. Aside from the lives saved, more than a third of calls have led to a marked improvement in care.
“The process is not being abused and has obviously met a need, giving patients and their families real agency. We look forward to its full implementation in maternity departments and call for its rapid introduction in Wales and Scotland.”
The scheme gives patients, their loved ones and NHS staff the right to ask a different medical team to examine the care provided and recommend changes.
Patients at hospitals involved in the program have 24/7 access to a critical care team made up of doctors and nurses from other parts of the building, who specialize in caring for patients who are deteriorating and who will come in and assess the situation.
Aidan Fowler, director of patient safety at NHS England, said: “Martha’s government is already helping to save lives and transform the culture of the NHS. These figures show that Merope and Paul’s tireless campaigning and the hard work of staff are helping the NHS listen to families more effectively and show that when concerns arise, hospital teams are ready to respond.”
Responding to the data, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said Mills and Laity had turned “unimaginable pain” into “lasting change”.
“Martha’s rule is to ensure that the NHS listens to patients and their families when it matters most, and that every call can result in a life-saving intervention,” he said.
“I am determined that Martha’s legacy will continue to grow through pilots on maternity wards. This is all part of our plan to ensure that patient safety is at the heart of the NHS and that each and every family receives the compassionate care they expect and deserve.”
