A new rule is being introduced in GP practices nationwide called Jess' Rule. This is being used in order to assist GP’s to correctly diagnose people sooner.
The rule is named after Jessica Brady, a cancer patient who died in 2020 at the age of 27 after visiting her GP 20 times in six months seeking medical help for abdominal pain, coughing, vomiting and weight loss.
Due to covid restrictions, Jess was given virtual appointments and prescribed various medications, including antibiotics and steroids. She was incorrectly told that she was suffering from long covid and that her symptoms were unlikely to be serious, given her age.
Jess was eventually diagnosed with widespread cancer but only after her mother paid for her to see a doctor privately. She sadly tragically passed away in the hospital three weeks later.
This rule (though not law) encourages GPs to reassess patients who have already had three appointments for their symptoms without a substantial diagnosis or where the symptoms have worsened. They will be prompted to consider seeking a second opinion, conduct face-to-face physical examinations, order additional tests and make appropriate specialist referrals.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has stated “
“Patient safety must be the bedrock of the NHS, and Jess' 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.”
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to the negligence of a medical or health professional, including a delay in diagnosing or misdiagnosing cancer, then we may be able to help you pursue a claim for compensation.
Our leading team of medical negligence experts are on hand to offer advice, so please get in touch with us on 0161 696 6165 or complete our online enquiry form and we will contact you directly.
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