Jess's Rule: A New Patient Safety Initiative Launches Across England
A significant new patient safety initiative, known as Jess's Rule, is being introduced to GP surgeries throughout England this week. The campaign, which carries the powerful slogan 'three strikes and rethink', represents a crucial step forward in clinical practice aimed at preventing missed or delayed diagnoses that can have fatal consequences.
Honouring Jessica Brady's Legacy
The initiative is named in memory of Jessica Brady, a 27-year-old engineer at Airbus who tragically passed away in 2020. In the six months leading to her death, Jessica contacted her GP surgery approximately twenty times, reporting symptoms including stomach pain, persistent cough, vomiting, and unexplained weight loss.
Due to pandemic restrictions at the time, her consultations were conducted virtually. She was prescribed various medications, including antibiotics and steroids, and was even told she might be suffering from long Covid. It was only when her mother arranged a private medical appointment that Jessica received a cancer diagnosis, but by then the disease had metastasised throughout her body. She died in hospital just three weeks later.
The Core Principle: Three Strikes and Rethink
Launched formally in September, Jess's Rule establishes a clear protocol for general practitioners. It urges doctors to fundamentally reassess their clinical approach whenever a patient returns for a third appointment without having received a definitive diagnosis for their persistent symptoms.
The rule encourages medical practitioners to consider several alternative actions at this critical juncture. These include seeking a second opinion from a colleague, arranging an in-person, face-to-face consultation if previous appointments have been remote, or ordering additional diagnostic tests that may have been overlooked initially.
National Rollout and Official Support
Posters outlining Jess's Rule have been distributed to all 6,170 GP surgeries across England. This promotional material was co-created by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England, and Jessica's parents, Andrea and Simon Brady. The campaign's primary objective is to enhance patient safety by empowering family doctors to question their initial assessments when symptoms persist.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has voiced strong support for the initiative, stating: 'Every patient deserves to be heard, and every serious illness deserves to be caught early. Jess's Rule makes that possible – reminding clinicians to take a fresh look when symptoms persist, and empowering patients to speak up about their care.'
He added: 'This is a fitting tribute to Jessica Brady and the tireless campaigning of her parents. Their determination to turn tragedy into lasting change will help protect patients and save lives for years to come.'
A Mother's Campaign for Change
Andrea Brady, Jessica's mother, has been instrumental in developing and promoting the rule through The Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust, the charity established in her daughter's memory. She reflected on her daughter's character, saying: 'Throughout her illness, Jess showed a quiet determination that her experience should lead to meaningful change, inspiring the launch of Jess's Rule.'
She expressed pride in her 'caring and courageous daughter' and noted that the charity has been 'heartened' by the response from the primary care community. Many practitioners have committed to developing further training based on the rule's principles, while others have written directly to patients to endorse the initiative and demonstrate their support.
'This level of engagement has been profoundly encouraging,' Andrea Brady stated. 'Jess's Rule posters have now been distributed to all GP practices in England and are expected to be displayed in consultation rooms. By supporting clinicians to take a fresh eyes approach when a patient returns for a third time with the same or worsening symptoms, Jess's Rule aims to ensure serious illnesses, including cancer, are identified and treated earlier – a goal I remain hopeful will be achieved.'
The widespread implementation of Jess's Rule marks a pivotal moment in UK healthcare, transforming personal tragedy into a systemic safeguard that could prevent similar outcomes for countless patients across the country.
