Dr Hajra Aesthetics

Martha’s Rule is becoming an increasingly important part of NHS patient safety - and this week it was announced that it will be rolled out to every A&E department in England.

So what does that actually mean?

Martha’s Rule gives patients, families and carers a formal route to request a rapid review if they are worried that someone is deteriorating and feel their concerns are not being responded to.

It is not simply a routine second opinion. It is specifically designed for concerns about deterioration, with review by a clinician or team independent of those directly responsible for the patient’s ongoing care.

It began being introduced in England in 2024. NHS trusts and foundation trusts are now required to implement its three core components by 31 March 2027 across relevant acute inpatient services.

And this week, the NHS announced the next major expansion: Martha’s Rule will be introduced into every A&E department in England, with the phased rollout due to be completed by March 2028. It is therefore not yet available in every A&E today.

There is no single national Martha’s Rule number. If you are concerned about someone in hospital, ask staff whether Martha’s Rule operates in that ward or department, or check the Trust website. NHS England also makes clear that hospitals are currently at different stages of implementation.

I wish a pathway like this had been available when my mum was deteriorating in hospital.

I want more patients, families and doctors to understand that this route now exists.

Save this. Send it to your family.

If sharing what happened to my mum helps even one family know how to raise the alarm sooner, then telling her story matters ♡

I used to think travel would have to fit around my career.

What I’ve learnt instead is that healthcare can actually open doors to seeing the world - if you’re proactive enough to look for them.

And this isn’t just for doctors. I’ve met nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physios, vets and other healthcare professionals doing incredible things abroad too.

Some opportunities helped me learn. Some introduced me to people and healthcare systems I would never otherwise have encountered. And more recently, the travel industry itself has even become another strand of my work.

Stop assuming that travel and a serious healthcare career have to compete with each other.

There are exchanges, humanitarian projects, teaching roles, overseas jobs, courses, conferences, funded study opportunities and completely different ways to build travel around the skills you already have.

If you’re a healthcare professional and any of the opportunities caught your eye, just DM me.

I’m happy to share the programmes, organisations, charities and routes I’ve come across - including how to earn as well as help 🌍

Fifteen years ago, I thought being a good doctor meant working hard, saying yes, pushing through and doing as much as I possibly could.

I still believe in working hard. I just don’t think it should come at the expense of everything else.

Medicine has given me an incredible amount: friendships, opportunities, experiences I never expected and a career that has taken me in directions I could never have planned.

But the last few years — and especially experiencing healthcare from the other side — have changed how I look at work, money, health and what actually makes a life feel full.

Some of these lessons are serious. Some have taken me an embarrassingly long time to learn.

If you’re a doctor or healthcare professional, I’d love to know: what would you add to this list?

If you work in healthcare, you’ll know how quickly annual leave disappears 😅

I love travelling, so over the years I’ve become quite strategic about making the most of both my time and my money.

I’ll always look at specific strategic dates first, try to arrive early and leave late, travel with hand luggage where I can, and check for sales or discount codes before booking anything.

And one of my favourite things is eeting up with friends or asking locals where they actually eat and spend their time. Some of my best travel experiences have come from recommendations I would never have found on a typical tourist to do list.

A useful one for TODAY: Eurostar currently has fares from £25 one way, but the sale ends tonight 👀

Save this for when you’re planning your 2027 leave - and send it to your friends who you'd love to go away with ✈️🌍

Comment "travel" and I'll send you more of the best travel hacks I've developed over the years! ♡♡

Hand luggage only for this epic trip, so I had to be selective about what skincare came with me!!

A year ago I didn't know if I'd be travelling at all. So looking through my bathroom cabinets, deciding which face wash to pack is not something I take for granted.

These are the 7 products that made the cut, and why.

I used to be prone to acne. My skin is clear now, but only because I found a simple routine that works and stuck to it. So the Effaclar wash and niacinamide come with me everywhere - twice a day, no exceptions.

My mastectomy scars still need looking after. Silicone gel every day and silicone tape a couple of times a week keep them hydrated, and that's what helps them flatten and fade.

Chemo took a lot of my hair and my lashes. Minoxidil foam is helping maintain my thick regrowth, and I've just started a lash serum. It takes 6 to 8 weeks to see a difference, but I'm VERY excited to see the outcome as my patients always have great results!

The one thing that didn't fit was a body moisturiser. I picked up a random 10% urea cream from the local pharmacy for a few euros and it's working really well at hydrating my skin!! I normally use this kind of product for my feet 😅

The details for each product are in the slides - what it is and why it works.

Comment SKINCARE if you'd like more information on any of them. Save this for your next hand- luggage only trip!

(Please note, everyone's skin is different, and requirements change with the season, hormones etc - DM me if you'd like a personalised skincare plan for you ♡).

Since being diagnosed with cancer, I’ve met so many people who have travelled without insurance because the quotes were simply too expensive.

I understand why. But as a doctor, I would never recommend travelling uninsured - especially with a significant medical history.

That’s why I wanted to share In My Wildest, a UK charity that offers grants of up to £500 towards travel insurance for eligible people living with cancer.

They also provide guidance on finding suitable cover, comparing policies and declaring your medical history properly.

If this could help someone you know - a friend, family member or your patients - please save & share it.

Sometimes the right support can make more possible. ♡

A year ago, I went from being the doctor to being the patient.

For the first time in my life, I had no idea or control over what my future would look like. I didn’t know if I’d travel again. I didn’t even know if I’d still be here at all. So I stopped trying to think too far ahead and just did what was in front of me. I took the medications. Had the operations I was terrified of. Got through treatment one stage at a time. And when things felt bleak, I kept visualising a future beyond it, even though I had no guarantee I’d get there.

Now I’m travelling again, seeing places I once wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see, and making plans that felt impossible a year ago.

Life still isn’t perfect, and there's a lot of healing and recovery ahead. But I no longer take this freedom for granted ♡♡