PLANS to introduce a rule ensuring “patients and families are listened to” have been welcomed as a “positive first step” by the family of a vulnerable mother who died after becoming septic and whose concerns were not adequately heard by hospital staff.
An inquest held last week into the death of 72-year-old Islander Sue Brizell heard that she was left in “unmanageable” pain before her death on 17 November 2025.
In a prevention of future deaths report, acting coroner Dr Deryn Evans formally recommended introducing “an established policy or law” allowing relatives to seek a second opinion when they believe their concerns are being dismissed by clinicians.
She said the measure should ideally reflect “Martha’s Rule”, which was initially rolled out across 143 UK hospital sites following the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021 after her family’s concerns were similarly ignored.
Health Minister Tom Binet has now confirmed to the JEP that work “has already begun” to enact the “coroner’s recommendation regarding the introduction of a Jersey equivalent to Martha’s Rule”.
He added that a workgroup previously tasked in 2024 with investigating the possibility of adopting a Martha’s Rule equivalent in Jersey has been contacted, with plans under way to “establish a dedicated task and finish group to take this work forward”.
Senator Binet stressed that while NHS core standards already in place for Martha’s Rule will be used “as a guide”, its implementation in the Island will need to be “appropriate for Jersey’s healthcare system and local context”.
“This includes considering how concerns can be escalated rapidly and independently by patients and families,” he added.
“As Jersey does not currently operate the same outreach team model used in many NHS trusts, alternative arrangements are being explored using existing services and roles within our healthcare system.
“Our priority remains ensuring that patients and families are listened to, that concerns can be raised and acted upon appropriately, and that we continue to learn from tragic cases such as this.”
Sue’s daughter Amanda Littleton – who was “dismissed” by a nurse after raising the possibility of her mother becoming septic two days before her death – described Senator Binet’s pledge as a “positive first step” towards giving families the right to a second clinical opinion.
But speaking on behalf of her family, she told the JEP that the policy-based commitment to bringing in a Martha’s Law equivalent “doesn’t go far enough” in scope.
“We all feel that this still doesn’t give us any sort of time-frame and there is no reference to it being brought about in memory of mum and for it to be referred to as ‘Sue’s Rule’ in her memory,” said Ms Littleton.
“There are already lots of policies and standards of procedures in place that aren’t being followed currently, and as a result of that, mum died.
“It may be that if there are failings to implement the rule in a timely way, or to implement it in the way that it should be, there will continue to be deaths.
“So, whilst it is absolutely positive that they have recognised what the coroner has said – and recognised all the failings – we still feel that it just doesn’t go far enough.”
Ms Littleton added that her family will instead be pursuing a “statutory” approach to the adoption of a ‘Sue’s Rule’ – a route that she believes will give families in Jersey a more solid footing when it comes to sourcing a second clinical opinion.
“We have got to make sure that standards are raised and people have got someone to raise their concerns with,” she said.
“A law would also give health professionals who might be concerned and want to escalate their concerns outside of their team a voice too.”
