Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust is celebrating national recognition after being shortlisted in the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026 for innovative work implementing Martha’s Rule.
The Trust has been named a finalist in the Nursing Led Patient Safety Initiative of the Year category for its introduction of the Patient Wellness Questionnaire (PWQ) as part of Martha’s Rule – a national patient safety initiative designed to ensure patients, families and carers have a stronger voice when concerns arise about a patient’s condition.
Martha’s Rule empowers patients and families to seek an urgent review if they believe a patient’s condition is deteriorating and their concerns are not being adequately addressed. It provides an additional layer of reassurance, helping to strengthen communication between patients, families and clinical teams while supporting the early identification of deterioration.
The Patient Wellness Questionnaire is a simple tool used during patient interactions to capture how patients feel about their clinical condition. Patients are asked a series of questions about whether they feel better, worse or the same, and whether they have any concerns about changes in their condition. The responses are used alongside clinical observations to give staff a fuller picture of a patient’s health, recognising that patients and families can often identify subtle changes before they are reflected in routine monitoring. Where concerns are identified, they can be escalated quickly to ensure timely review and intervention.
The shortlisting recognises the significant work undertaken across the Trust to embed Martha’s Rule and improve patient safety and outcomes through the introduction of the Patient Wellness Questionnaire. The recognition comes as awareness of Martha’s Rule continues to grow across the region.
Announcing the achievement, Leo Davis, Lead for Martha’s Rule and the Deteriorating Patient Programme Delivery, described the shortlisting as recognition of the collective effort, dedication and commitment shown by colleagues across the organisation.
Sharing the news he said: “Being shortlisted for a national HSJ Patient Safety Award is testament to the hard work, commitment and passion shown by colleagues across the Trust. Martha’s Rule is about ensuring patients and families are heard, empowered and supported when they have concerns about a loved one’s condition.”
Group Chief Executive Diane Wake said: “I am incredibly proud to see this important work recognised nationally. Martha’s Rule is fundamentally about listening to patients and families, taking their concerns seriously and ensuring they have a clear way to ask for further help when they feel something is not right.
“This shortlisting is thoroughly deserved recognition for Leo and everyone involved in embedding this work across the Trust, and I would like to congratulate the whole team on this achievement.”
The HSJ Patient Safety Awards celebrate organisations and teams that are making a measurable difference to patient safety and experience across the NHS, recognising innovation, leadership and best practice from around the country.