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The Guardian World1 min read
Merope Mills awarded CBE in king’s honours list for Martha’s rule campaign
TL;DR
Merope Mills has been awarded a CBE for her campaign on Martha's rule, which aims to enhance patient safety by allowing second opinions in healthcare. This initiative is credited with potentially saving hundreds of lives in England since its introduction.
Key points
- Merope Mills awarded CBE for patient safety advocacy
- Martha's rule allows second opinions in healthcare
- Campaign aims to empower patients and families
- Initiative credited with saving hundreds of lives
- Mills' daughter Martha died due to medical failures
Mentioned in this story
Merope MillsMartha MillsKing's College Hospital
The healthcare campaigner and journalist Merope Mills has been made a CBE in the king’s birthday honours list for services to patient safety.
Mills, a senior editor at the Guardian, was a driving force behind the introduction of an initiative in England said to have potentially saved hundreds of lives. She has spent years campaigning for the introduction of Martha’s rule under which patients, relatives and staff can seek a second opinion if they have concerns about the care being provided.
She said: “This is recognition for a campaign fought not just by me but also my husband, Paul, with the help of many excellent doctors and nurses who helped make Martha’s rule a reality. They knew it was time we saw a shift in the power dynamic in hospitals, and a real chance to give patients and their families more of a voice at the time they need it most.”
Mills took action after the death of her 13-year-old daughter Martha – after whom the rule is named – in 2021 because of failures to identify and properly treat a case of sepsis that developed while she was in King’s College hospital in London.
In 2022, a coroner ruled Martha probably would have survived had doctors identified the warning signs and transferred her to intensive care earlier.
Martha suffered a laceration to her pancreas in what initially appeared to be a minor accident while cycling. She was transferred to the hospital in south London because it is one of three national centres for the care of children with pancreatic trauma. Her condition was not thought to be life-threatening.
She developed sepsis, though that too could have been treated. Her parents said their concerns over her deteriorating health were not heeded, with doctors instead trying to reassure them even as Martha’s condition worsened. Nursing staff privately acknowledged she was at risk of death.
Along with Martha’s father, Paul Laity, Mills began advocating the system under which people can now call a hospital-run helpline with their concerns, and seek a “rapid review”.
Mills added: “There is still so much that can be done to make our healthcare safer. The number of preventable deaths like Martha’s remains shockingly high. Apart from the devastation it causes families like ours, it costs the NHS billions in compensation and treating complications that result from mistakes.
Q&A
What is Martha's rule and how does it improve patient safety?
Martha's rule allows patients, relatives, and staff to request a second opinion if there are concerns about care, aiming to empower families and enhance patient safety.
Why was Merope Mills awarded a CBE?
Merope Mills was awarded a CBE for her significant contributions to patient safety through her advocacy for Martha's rule, which has potentially saved hundreds of lives.
What tragic event led to the creation of Martha's rule?
Martha's rule was created following the death of Merope Mills' daughter, Martha, who died due to failures in identifying and treating sepsis while hospitalized.
How many lives has Martha's rule potentially saved since its introduction?
Martha's rule is said to have potentially saved hundreds of lives in England since it was introduced in 2024.
