- NHS addresses parental concerns.
- ‘Martha’s rule’ for child care.
- Right to second opinion.
Parents who are concerned that their children may develop life-threatening illnesses while hospitalized can now rest assured that physicians will address their apprehensions.
National Paediatric Early Warning Score monitoring of infants and children’s vital signs is being implemented by the NHS.
However, if this does not give rise to any apprehensions, parents who suspect their child is deteriorating can promptly escalate their case.
‘Martha’s Rule’ and Policy Shift
A ‘Martha’s rule’ is an initial measure towards a shift in national policy, intended to avert a recurrence of the errors that resulted in the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills (13 March) due to the failure of physicians to admit her to intensive care.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of the NHS, stated that as part of the new policy, the NHS also intended to grant concerned parents the right to a second opinion on their child’s condition.
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“We know that nobody can spot the signs of a child getting sicker better than their parents,” he continued. That is why we have ensured that the concerns of families and carers are at the core of this new system, with plans to incorporate the right to a second opinion as the system develops further and immediate escalation in a child’s care if they raise concerns.
Tragic Case of Martha Mills
Martha passed away in 2021 after developing sepsis while receiving medical attention at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in south London, after sustaining a pancreatic injury. Her guardians reportedly expressed concerns about her deteriorating condition.
Martha would have likely survived if medical professionals had recognized early warning signs and transferred her to intensive care, according to a coroner’s decision from the previous year. Thereafter, the trust issued an apology for its errors.
Minister of Health Maria Caulfield stated, “Families will find it reassuring that their voices will be considered as part of this system.
The new system of physicians and nurses treating children will utilize a chart to monitor any possible deterioration in the child’s condition.
Although numerous hospitals have implemented comparable systems already, this modification will establish a unified and standardized procedure.
We anticipate national implementation of the policy by the end of the following year.
