Medical negligence
Jess’s Rule urges GPs to take action to safeguard patients
A new rule is being introduced to urge GPs in England to “think again” if they see a patient three times but cannot make a diagnosis, or find their symptoms are becoming worse.
Jess’s Rule encourages GPs to take action when patients’ illnesses are ongoing, including arranging face-to-face consultations when previously they have been spoken to by phone; ordering extra tests; asking for a second opinion from a colleague; or referring patients to a specialist.
The NHS initiative was inspired by Jessica Brady, who contacted her GP more than 20 times from the summer of 2020, and was told her symptoms were related to Long Covid. She died from advanced stage 4 cancer later that year, aged only 27.
Despite having spoken to six different GPs and attending three face-to-face consultations, no referral was made to a specialist. By the time her family arranged a private appointment for her, desperate for some action to be taken, Jessica’s cancer was too advanced.
Jess’s Rule is supported by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), which was involved in creating the guidance, and has also worked with the Brady family to develop an educational resource for GPs on the early diagnosis of cancer in young adults.
Law firm Slater and Gordon supports people across the country who have suffered as a result of misdiagnosis, and welcomes the introduction of Jess’s Rule.
“Too often, patients repeatedly seek medical advice and are not given the referral or diagnosis they desperately need, and it can lead to the most devastating consequences, such as in the case of Jessica Brady,” says John Lowther, senior associate at Slater and Gordon and chair of Healthwatch South Tyneside.
“Jess’s Rule will help to change this for people across the country, and ensure that GPs are taking every opportunity to make the correct interventions or referrals. This is a hugely positive introduction to our primary care system and one which will help to save lives.
“It is important that the NHS supports Jess’s Rule by ensuring the resource is in place to deal with increased referrals, to make sure patient safety is prioritised through a joined-up approach.”
