Call for Concern

Concerned your or a loved one’s health is getting worse?

If you have ongoing concerns after speaking with the ward nurse and doctor there is support available to you.

Call for Concern, also known as Martha's Rule, is a patient safety service for adult inpatients, children and young people, families and friends to call for help and advice if they or their family are concerned that there is a noticeable change or deterioration in their condition, and they are concerned this is not being responded to.

Barts Health is part of the 143 hospitals to pilot the implementation of Martha’s Rule. Please beware that not all wards are able to offer Call for Concern currently.

Call for Concern, also known as Martha’s Rule is comprised of three components to ensure concerns about deterioration can be swiftly responded to.

1. An escalation process will be available 24/7 within particpating wards,enabling patients and families to contact a clincal team that can swiftly assess a case and esccalate care if necessary.

2. NHS colleagues will also have access to this same process if they have concerns about a patients condition.

3. Clinicians in participating wards will also formally record daily insights and information about a patient's health directly from thier families, ensuring any concerning changes in behaviou or condition noticed by the people who know the patient best are considered by staff.