Jess' Rule to prevent avoidable deaths with 'three strikes and rethink' GP rule
Jessica Brady died after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, despite her GPs repeatedly saying she was suffering from long covid
A new patient safety measure named after a young woman who died from cancer is being introduced across GP surgeries in England, the Government has announced.
Jess’s Rule, created in memory of 27-year-old Jessica Brady, will require GPs to adopt a “three strikes and rethink” approach.
If a patient has three appointments with the same ongoing symptoms and no clear diagnosis, doctors will be expected to review the case, consider a second opinion, order more tests, or make a specialist referral.
Jessica, an engineer from Hertfordshire, died in December 2020 after being diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma.
She had contacted her GP surgery around 20 times over six months with symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, coughing and weight loss.
Due to pandemic restrictions, she was not examined in person and was repeatedly told she had long Covid, despite negative coronavirus tests.
She was diagnosed with cancer only after her mother arranged for her to see a private doctor.
By then, the disease had spread to her spine, liver, stomach, lungs and lymph nodes. Jessica was placed on oxygen and died a few weeks later.
Jess's mum, Andrea Brady, who has campaigned for the rule, said: "Jess lived for just three short weeks following her terminal cancer diagnosis.
"Despite her shock and devastation, she showed unfailing courage, positivity, dignity, and love.
"Jess was determined that people should understand how desperately she had tried to advocate for herself and seek a resolution for her declining health.
"In the bleak weeks following the loss of Jess, I realised it was my duty to continue what she had started.
"It has taken nearly five years to bring about Jess's Rule. I would like to dedicate this initiative to all the young people who have been diagnosed too late.
"It has only been made possible because of the people who have listened - politicians, medics, and the nearly half-a-million who supported the campaign."
More than 465,000 people nave signed a petition backing the campaign.
Announcing the rollout of Jess’s Rule, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "Jessica Brady’s death was a preventable and unnecessary tragedy. I want to thank her courageous family, who have campaigned tirelessly through unimaginable grief to ensure Jessica’s legacy helps to save the lives of others.
"Patient safety must be the bedrock of the NHS, and Jess’s Rule will make sure every patient receives the thorough, compassionate, and safe care that they deserve, while supporting our hard-working GPs to catch potentially deadly illnesses."
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said many GP practices already used similar approaches in complex cases, but Jess's Rule would make this standard practice across the country.
The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed the rule has been developed with the Royal College of GPs and NHS England.
An educational toolkit has also been created to support GPs with the early diagnosis of cancer in young adults.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: "If a patient repeatedly presents with the same or similar symptoms, but the treatment plan does not seem to be making them better – or their condition is deteriorating – it is best practice to review the diagnosis and consider alternative approaches.
"We hope that by formalising this with Jess’s Rule, it will remind GPs to keep this at the forefront of their minds."