Overview

• Monash University researchers reviewed nearly 190,000 emergency visits in Melbourne and found children were four times more likely to need ICU care when parents raised deterioration concerns.
• Parental worry showed a stronger link to intensive care admission than any abnormal vital sign, including heart rate, breathing or blood pressure.
• In 19.3% of documented cases, parents voiced concerns before clinical measurements detected a decline, indicating potential for earlier intervention.
• Martha’s Rule has been introduced across NHS trusts to formalise family requests for second opinions based on parental intuition.
• Thousands of patients or families have invoked the initiative since March, with over 100 children subsequently admitted to intensive care under the new protocol.