If you are not happy with the care that you or your loved one are getting, the first step is to talk to the medical team. If this does not help, you can ask to see a different doctor or nurse for your next appointment.
The information on this page is for:
- Adults and children with a liver condition
- Family, friends, carers, and healthcare professionals.
In some cases, Martha’s rule can be used in England to get a rapid review of someone in hospital.
You can find out more about these options below.
On this page:
Keeping a record of concerns
If you have concerns about the care you or your loved on are receiving it is helpful to keep a record.
You can note down things like:
- Symptoms
- Treatments
- Discussions with the medical team
- Question you don’t have an answer for
For each note include the time, date and location.
The record could be useful if you go on to request a review, give feedback or make a complaint. But it can also be helpful for you to look back on if you are dealing with lots of appointments or time in hospital.
Support from Liver UK
To get in touch with our support services you can call our free helpline between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) on 0800 652 7330 or find out more here.
For adults with a liver condition and their families,
Our specialist liver nurses can help you to navigate the healthcare system and understand your options.
For children with a liver condition and their families
Our support services are here for you and your child. We can help you to understand your options, prepare for conversations with your child’s medical team or decide on next steps.
Can I get a second opinion?
There is currently no legal right to a second opinion. But you can ask for one. And most doctors should agree to this.
When should I get a second opinion?
There are several reasons why you might want a second opinion:
- If you have been told you or your child have a serious medical condition, you might want to get this confirmed by a second doctor.
- If you are unhappy or unsure about the treatment options, it might help to talk to someone else.
- If you are not happy with the care being given. Or feel that you cannot talk to the current doctor.
The downsides of second opinions
Asking for a second opinion will not give you any kind of priority on waiting lists. So, you might have a long wait to speak to the new doctor. This could be risky if it means a delay in starting treatment.
There might not be another suitable specialist in your hospital or area. So, you might only be able to get a second opinion if you can travel some distance.
If you are hoping to get more or different information, then it can be upsetting if the new doctor tells you the same things.
There are only a small number of centres that look after children with liver disease. So a second opinion may mean a discussion between specialist teams rather getting care from a different hospital.
How do I get a second opinion?
The first thing to do is to ask the current doctor. Most should be happy to talk to you about this. They should understand your need to find out about the condition and make informed decisions about care. They will also be able to send information about test results, and medical history, to the new doctor.
If the specialist will not help, you can go back to the GP.
If you have tried both and still cannot get a second opinion, you can try going through the hospital’s PALS or complaint’s procedure. Find out more further down this page.
Martha’s Rule
What is Martha’s Rule?
Martha’s Rule is different to a second opinion. It gives you the right to ask for a rapid review if you are worried that a patient’s condition is getting worse.
It can not be used for concerns about treatment plans, communication, or outpatient care.
Who can use Martha’s Rule?
Martha’s Rule can be used by patients and by parents or other family members of someone who is in hospital.
It only applies when the patient is an inpatient in a hospital in England.
How can I use Martha’s Rule?
If you are worried someone is deteriorating the first step if to talk to the medical team.
If you are still concerned you can ask a member of staff how to request a rapid review. This could be a member of staff somewhere else in the hospital if you prefer.
Many hospitals in England have a phone number for requesting a rapid review. You can often find this on their website. Some hospitals also have posters with details on how to request a rapid review.
Giving feedback or making a complaint
If the other options do not help you can give feedback or make a complaint. How you do this depends on where you live:
England
Most hospitals have a patient advice and liaison service. It is usually called PALS. This is the best place to start. But some PALS services have long waiting lists.
Northern Ireland
Complaints need to be made locally first. You should be able to get information on how to contact the complaints department from the hospital. Either from your medical team, or from the main reception or hospital website.
Scotland
If you are complaining about care in a hospital, you must contact your local health board. The procedure is different if you want to complain about a GP. You can find more information about this on the patient advice and support service website (PASS)
Wales
To raise a complaint, you must contact the complaints team at the health board for your hospital. Some hospitals have a PALS like in England, but these don’t deal with complaints.
How to raise a complaint and find your health board in Wales
Support
How Liver UK can help
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