Patient safety is our priority, especially in patients whose health is getting worse.
Call 4 Concern is a patient safety service run by the Critical Care Outreach Team, that allows patients and families to call for urgent help when they are concerned that their own or their loved one’s worsening condition.
If the care team looking after you/your loved one become concerned about yours or your loved one’s condition they can also contact Call 4 Concern for urgent help.
What to do if you are concerned
You know your yourself or a loved one better than anyone. You may notice small changes before they show up in our routine tests.
Telling us about these changes as soon as you notice them can help us treat you or your loved one sooner and take action to prevent more serious health problems.
Call 4 Concern if you are still worried after you have spoken to the ward nurse or doctor.
Call 0151 706 5811 - 24 hours a day, any day.
Please note: Call 4 Concern is accessible to patients currently on wards 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D and 7A and 7D at the Royal.
When the Critical Care Outreach Team receive your call, they will need to know:
- About who is calling
- About the patient and the ward
- What is the problem.
After assessing the urgency of the problem, the team will visit you on the ward to discuss your concerns and assess the situation and start treatment if needed.
The Critical Care Outreach team will talk to the patient’s medical team to discuss further treatment options. Sometimes, we are unable to take your call immediately, as we are on another call. Please ring back.
Call 4 Concern is a patient safety service. To report problems regarding your hospital bed, room, food, parking or any other general issues, please speak to your nurse or the ward manager.
You can also contact the Matrons helpline to discuss any issues further on 0151 706 3377.
The Patient Advice and Complaints Team – PACT – can talk with staff and managers to sort out issues quickly and can provide patients, relatives and carers with help, support and information about hospital services and any concerns.
PACT is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. Telephone them on 0151 706 2380, email them at PACT
In May 2024, the Royal Liverpool University Hospital was selected as one of 143 pilot sites across England to test and implement Martha’s Rule, to support the early detection of deterioration by ensuring the concerns of patients, families, carers and staff are listened to and acted upon.
Across Liverpool University Hospitals Martha’s Rule is referred to as ‘Call 4 Concern’, a vital patient safety initiative that gives healthcare staff, patients and their families a clear pathway to raise concerns about rapid deterioration.
Call 4 Concern involves staff asking, listening, recording and acting on any changes in condition reported by patients or their loved ones.
It allows staff, patients or their families to request a rapid review from a different team if they notice any deterioration in the patient’s condition that is not being addressed by the local care team.