The Know Daily - Tuesday 21 April 2026

_{Read in 4m 42s ∙ Listening to The Chicks ∙}

A London DJ has hosted a daytime rave (yep, you read that right) at a senior centre, getting older adults up dancing and connecting with each other. It’s all about tackling loneliness through music and shared moments – and from the looks of it, it’s went down an absolute treat. 💖

🏥 Martha’s Rule

Figures have shown that more than 400 lives may have been saved as a result of Martha’s Rule, which gives NHS patients and families a clearer way to raise concerns and request an urgent review of care.

What is Martha’s Rule?
Martha’s Rule is a patient safety initiative in England that allows patients, families and carers to ask for a rapid review if they feel someone’s condition is getting worse and they’re not being listened to. It’s designed to create a straightforward escalation route so that concerns can be checked quickly by another clinical team.

Where did it come from?
The rule is named after Martha Mills, a 13-year-old who died in hospital in 2021 after developing sepsis. Her family have said their concerns about her deterioration were not acted on quickly enough. Following a campaign led by her parents, the NHS introduced Martha’s Rule to help ensure patients and families have a stronger voice in similar situations.

So how does it work?
Hospitals that have adopted the scheme provide a clear way – often a phone number or bedside information – for patients or relatives to request an urgent review. This triggers an independent clinical team (separate from the one already providing care) to assess the patient and decide whether treatment needs to change. Alongside this, patients are routinely asked how they’re feeling and whether they think they’re getting better or worse, so any concerns can be picked up earlier. It doesn’t replace existing care, but adds an extra layer of reassurance.

Are there any limitations?
It’s still being rolled out across NHS hospitals, so availability can vary depending on where you are. It also relies on people knowing it exists and feeling confident enough to use it, which is why awareness is so important. Despite this, The Guardian reported that helplines have received more than 10,000 calls in the first 16 months of the scheme after it was introduced in 2024.

What other patient rights do I have?

As well as asking for a second opinion, here are some other rights you have in England:

📋 You can see your medical records and request amendments if something isn’t quite right.
👩‍⚕️ You can request a chaperone, especially during intimate examinations (this can be a trained staff member or someone you trust).
⏰ You can ask for time to decide – if a treatment isn’t urgent, you don’t have to agree straight away. Take time to ask questions and understand your options.
👥 You can bring someone with you into appointments for support or to help ask questions.

🌍 The first all-female lineup of winners in the 37-year history of the Goldman Environmental Prize has been announced, recognising grassroots activists making a global impact.

• The bigger story: Among this year’s six winners is Sarah Finch, whose landmark UK court case forced decision-makers to consider the climate impact of burning fossil fuels when approving new projects. The ruling has already influenced planning decisions and is seen as a significant moment for climate law. Overall, the awards highlight how individual campaigns are shaping environmental policy and action around the world.

⚖️ Deciding to appoint Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US was “wrong”, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said, after it emerged Mandelson failed security vetting.

👨‍💼 The CEO of Apple Tim Cook is stepping down after almost 15 years in the role and is set to be replaced by John Ternus (current head of the hardware engineering department) in September.

👁️ Tinder users will soon be able to scan their eyes to earn a "proof of humanity" badge that will be pinned to their profile, in an effort to curb concerns about AI use.

☀️ A new name has been created in Japan for weather forecasters to describe days that will 40C or hotter.

✈️ “Wellbeing zones” are set to be introduced on an Australian airline, offering stretching space and healthy refreshments for all passengers…we could definitely get onboard with that! 

📷 The winning photos of the Sony World Photography Awards have been revealed (they’ve been chosen from 430k entries!).

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Trivia answer: A) The celeb had a net favourability of +65 bringing them out on top of the charts.

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