According to data from NHS England, almost one in eight phone calls made under the Martha's Rule scheme has led to a potentially life-saving change of treatment.

Martha's Rule enables patients and their families to dial a phone number at the hospital and request an urgent review from a critical-care outreach team if they feel their concerns are being ignored.

The figures were revealed by Merope Mills, Martha's mother, on BBC R4's Today programme. She began campaigning for Martha's Rule after an inquest found that change of care plan could have saved 13-year-old Martha's life.

According to the figures, of the 573 calls made in September and October, 286 (50 per cent) led to a critical-care review, resulting in a change of treatment in 57 cases and a further 14 patients being transferred into intensive care.

Merope Mills said: "Losing a loved one in a preventable way compounds your grief and your devastation.

"But if nobody learns from it, nothing changes." 

Mills is calling for the scheme to be extended to all NHS hospitals, with posters and leaflets displaying the same branding.

NHS England has said that there will be further developments in 2025 and 2026, to extend and adapt the scheme where necessary.