THE trust that runs south Cumbria's hospitals is 'committed' to implementing new rules to give patients and families access to a rapid review if they are worried about a condition getting worse.

The NHS in England will roll out ‘Martha’s Rule’ from April, with an escalation process, which formalises access to a critical care team for a second opinion, available 24/7.

Under the move, an urgent clinical review would be carried out by a different team in the hospital if a patient’s condition is rapidly worsening and they or their family feels they are not getting the care needed.

Updating the Morecambe Bay NHS trust board of directors, chief executive Aaron Cummins said: "As a trust, we are committed to supporting Martha’s Rule across our hospitals.

"We are currently awaiting further information on the criteria for being part of the first 100 trusts to implement it; and if we meet these criteria, we will be putting ourselves forward.

"However, we are not waiting to find out whether we can be included in the first phase of implementation."

He said the trust was already taking actions to support the principles of Martha’s Rule.

At least 100 NHS trusts are expected to bring in the rule with the programme evaluated throughout this year and next.

The plan is to then extend Martha’s Rule to all acute hospitals, subject to government funding.

The move follows the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021.

She developed sepsis while under the care of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in south London.

A coroner ruled she would most likely have survived if doctors had identified the warning signs of her rapidly deteriorating condition and transferred her to intensive care earlier.

Martha’s parents, Merope Mills, an editor at the Guardian, and her husband Paul Laity, raised concerns about Martha’s health a number of times but these were brushed aside.

The pair have since campaigned for Martha’s Rule to be introduced to give families more say.

They said in a statement: “We are pleased that the implementation of Martha’s Rule will begin in April.

“We believe Martha’s Rule will save lives. In cases of deterioration, families and carers by the bedside can be aware of changes busy clinicians can’t; their knowledge should be recognised as a resource.