“Jess’s Rule”: A Vital New Safety Net for Patients – And Why It Matters

From next week, every GP surgery in England will display a new safety prompt designed to help prevent delayed or missed diagnoses.

Known as Jess’s Rule, the initiative urges GPs to “think again” when a patient presents three times with ongoing, unexplained, or worsening symptoms without a clear diagnosis.

The rule is named in honour of Jessica Brady, a 27‑year‑old woman who tragically died in 2020 from advanced stage four adenocarcinoma.

Before she was finally diagnosed, Miss Brady contacted her GP more than 20 times and saw multiple doctors, reporting feeling unwell, yet no referral was made. Her symptoms – including weight loss, night sweats, and vomiting – were attributed to long Covid.

By the time her family secured a private appointment, Miss Brady received a terminal diagnosis. She died just three weeks later.

Her parents have since worked tirelessly to ensure lessons are learned. Their campaign, supported by NHS England and the Department of Health, has resulted in the rollout of Jess’s Rule nationwide.

What is Jess’s Rule?

Jess’s Rule encourages clinicians to adopt a “fresh eyes” approach in any situation where:

If these situations arise, GPs are prompted to:

The aim is simple but powerful: to reduce avoidable delays in diagnosis and improve patient safety.

Why Jess’s Rule is so important

For many patients experiencing worrying or unexplained symptoms, early diagnosis can be lifesaving. When symptoms escalate, and patients feel dismissed or unheard, it can lead to devastating consequences – as in Miss Brady’s case.

Her mother has emphasised that Jess’s Rule is about empowering both patients and doctors. She said: “We still need to trust our doctors but trust ourselves as well.”

This initiative encourages exactly that: open conversations, careful clinical judgment, and proactive escalation where needed.

What this means for patients

If you have persistent or worsening symptoms and feel you are not being listened to, Jess’s Rule reinforces your right to:

You should never feel you are “bothering” your GP. Persistent symptoms deserve persistent investigation.

Comment

Jess’s Rule highlights just how critical it is for GPs to reassess when symptoms don’t improve. While most clinicians work hard under intense pressure, missed or late diagnoses can have life‑changing effects for patients and their families.

This new NHS initiative should help reduce avoidable harm and certainly puts a spotlight on a significant need for change in processes.

Miss Brady wanted her experience to lead to change. Thanks to her family’s determination, the posters they designed – supported by the Jessica Brady Cedar Trust – will now be in every GP surgery in England.

For many patients, Jess’s Rule could make the difference between early diagnosis and preventable harm. It is a reminder that patients deserve to be heard, and that no symptom should be dismissed without proper consideration.

We understand how frightening and frustrating it can feel when your health concerns aren’t taken seriously. If you believe there has been an avoidable delay in diagnosing your condition or that of a loved one, our clinical negligence team is here to help you understand your options.