Healthwatch Swindon is the town’s independent champion for people who use health and social care services. We’re here to make sure that those running services, put people at the heart of care.
According to the NHS, Martha’s Rule has been put in place to make sure that any concerns of patients and their families are listened to and acted upon. It aims to spot worrying health symptoms earlier and stop them getting worse.
The rule is being implemented across all adult and children’s inpatient settings in England and includes three core components:
1. Patients are asked daily how they feel and whether they are getting better or worse.
2. Any staff member can request a review from a different team if they believe a patient is deteriorating and are not being taken seriously.
3. Patients, families, and carers can directly request a rapid review, with this escalation route clearly advertised in hospitals.
This survey is designed to capture your awareness of Martha's rule and establish the best way it can be communicated to patients and families in Swindon.