A service which offers patients, their families and carers 24-hour access to a rapid review if they have concerns about a person’s deteriorating condition is launching in south Lincolnshire later this year.
Call For Concern will give anyone worried about a loved one direct contact to a dedicated team who will give urgent help and advice.
The service has been developed as part of the implementation of ‘Martha’s Rule’.
Martha Mills died in 2021 after developing sepsis in hospital in London, where she had been admitted with a pancreatic injury after falling off her bike.
Martha’s family’s concerns about her deteriorating condition were not responded to, and in 2023 a coroner ruled that Martha would probably have survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.
In response to this, and other cases related to the management of deterioration, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and NHS England committed to implement ‘Martha’s Rule’ in the NHS nationally; to ensure the vitally important concerns of the patient and those who know the patient best are listened to and acted upon.
The Call For Concern service was originally launched at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, and is now being adapted for other acute and specialist hospitals across the country.
It was launched at Lincoln County Hospital last month with Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital to offer it from March.
Dr Colin Farquharson, chief medical officer for Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, said: “The Call For Concern service builds on the existing safeguards already in place in our hospitals to offer a clear and direct way for patients, families, carers and other advocates to further escalate their concerns and access a rapid review of their care.”
Nerea Odongo, group chief nurse for Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, added: “I’m very proud of what the teams have accomplished in setting up this service.
“In Lincolnshire, the Critical Care Outreach Team will be responsible for these reviews.
“They have extensive experience in caring for patients whose conditions may be worsening.
“This team, made up of specialist doctors and nurses, collaborates closely with other healthcare professionals to ensure that appropriate care plans are in place.
“A special thank you goes to everyone involved for their dedication and hard work in making this possible.”
