Jess’s Rule: A Life-Saving GP Safety Campaign
Sometimes diagnoses are made incorrectly by GPs because clinicians often have to work within limited consultation times and assess symptoms that are vague or overlap with many different conditions. Many illnesses present differently from person to person, and the early stages of disease may not show clear “red flag” signs, making an accurate diagnosis challenging.
While most GPs aim to provide safe, effective and accurate care, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can sometimes occur despite the best intentions.
Jess’s Rule aims to minimise the risk of misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis, and patients across England can now benefit from this new life-saving safety campaign.
What Is Jess’s Rule?
Jess’s Rule is named in memory of Jessica Brady, a 27-year-old who tragically died from advanced cancer in 2020 after attending her GP surgery around 20 times without her illness being identified.
Due to the lack of investigations and an accurate diagnosis, Jess was forced to seek private healthcare. She was subsequently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, but by then it was so advanced that there were unfortunately no treatment options available. Jess sadly died in hospital just three weeks after her diagnosis.
Following her death, her family tirelessly campaigned to help drive the introduction of this new safety initiative. It aims to prevent similar tragedies by encouraging clinicians to reassess unresolved symptoms or uncertain diagnoses, particularly in younger patients. The campaign has been supported by NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
The core principle is “Three Strikes and We Rethink.” This means that if a patient presents three times with the same symptom or concern and their condition remains unresolved, clinicians should “Reflect, Review and Rethink.”
“Reflect, Review and Rethink”: The Three-Step Approach
1. Reflect
GPs are encouraged to review the case thoroughly after three unresolved or escalating presentations, especially if the original diagnosis was unsubstantiated. They should then escalate the concern for a “fresh eyes” approach and clinical reassessment.
2. Review
GPs are encouraged to discuss the case with colleagues if they are uncertain about a patient’s presenting symptoms or diagnosis, while looking again for any red flag symptoms. Wherever possible, continuity of care with the same GP should be maintained.
3. Rethink
GPs should escalate the case by arranging further investigations or referring the patient to a specialist in secondary care where appropriate.
What Does Jess’s Rule Mean for Patients and Healthcare?
For patients, Jess’s Rule is designed to improve safety and trust in primary care by:
- Prompting earlier recognition of potentially serious conditions, increasing a person’s chance of survival and recovery.
- Encouraging more thorough assessments when symptoms persist, with greater emphasis on face-to-face examinations.
- Supporting patients to feel heard and ensuring their ongoing concerns are taken seriously.
For GP practices, Jess’s Rule embeds the expectation that repeated visits for the same concern should trigger a thorough reconsideration of the diagnosis rather than routine reassurance. It also recognises the limitations of remote consultations and encourages physical examinations where appropriate.
Continuity of care remains crucial for detecting subtle changes in symptoms so that the right care and treatment can be provided without unnecessary delay.
Posters reminding clinicians of this approach have been sent to GP surgeries across England to raise awareness and encourage this practice.
How Phoenix Solicitors Can Help?
If you or a loved one have suffered harm as a result of GP medical negligence, including a delayed or incorrect diagnosis, our specialist clinical negligence team can advise you on your options and whether you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact Phoenix Solicitors today to discuss making a claim on a no win, no fee basis.
0151 306 3694 Online enquiry