The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has introduced Call 4 Concern (C4C), a patient safety service at St Mary’s Hospital designed to give patients, families, friends, and carers a direct way to raise urgent concerns about deteriorating health.
C4C allows anyone worried that a patient’s condition is worsening and not being fully addressed by ward staff to request an immediate clinical review. The service is delivered by the hospital’s Critical Care Outreach Service (CCOS), which supports patients of all ages across the hospital who are acutely unwell.
The initiative aligns with Martha’s Rule, a national approach aimed at giving patients and families a clear right to speak up if they feel their concerns are being ignored. Martha’s Rule ensures that patients can request a second opinion from senior medical staff in the same hospital when their condition is deteriorating rapidly. The rule is named after Martha Mills, a teenager who tragically died after failures to treat her sepsis, and it reflects a broader drive across the NHS to strengthen patient and family involvement in recognising deterioration.
How Call 4 Concern works
C4C is specifically for inpatients whose clinical condition is worsening or not improving as expected. It is not for general feedback or non-urgent questions about care. Patients or those caring for them can call the service to request an urgent review, providing reassurance that concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon quickly.
Enable Law senior associate Johnathan Steventon-Kiy welcomes the service, saying:
“Call 4 Concern is a vital step forward in patient safety on the Isle of Wight. It gives patients and families the confidence to speak up when something doesn’t feel right, and ensures their voices are heard by those who can act quickly to help.”
When to use Call 4 Concern
Patients and families should contact C4C if:
- There is concern that a patient’s condition has worsened.
- Previous concerns have not been fully acknowledged by the ward team.
- Immediate advice or support is needed.
The service builds on existing patient safety measures at St Mary’s Hospital and reflects a wider movement across the NHS and internationally to make it easier for patients and families to escalate concerns before a situation becomes critical. By providing a clear, trusted route for urgent concerns, Call 4 Concern empowers patients and carers, helping ensure safety, reassurance, and timely intervention in hospital care.
Enable Law’s work on the Isle of Wight
Medical negligence claims can be complex, and getting the right support makes all the difference. Having experienced lawyers based here on the Isle of Wight means you can speak directly with someone who understands the local healthcare system and the impact that care failings can have on our community.
If you have concerns about the care you or a family member received at St Mary’s Hospital or elsewhere on the Island, we’re here to help. To talk to Johnathan or another member of our team call us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form so we can call you back at a time convenient to you.
