Thousands have sought second opinion after NHS hospitals adopted Martha’s rule, MPs hear

Martha’s rule gives hospital patients and their loved ones the right to request an urgent review and a second opinion. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

Thousands of patients or their loved ones have sought a second opinion about their NHS care as result of hospitals adopting Martha’s rule, MPs have heard.

This includes more than 100 patients taken to intensive care “or equivalent” since the patient safety procedure was introduced in many parts of the NHS in England last April, the Commons health and social care committee heard on Wednesday.