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A tragic incident has led to the implementation of a new rule for GPs in England. The rule, named Jess’s Rule, was inspired by Jessica Brady, a 27-year-old woman whose cancer was missed by multiple doctors. Jessica contacted her GP over 20 times after feeling unwell in the summer of 2020. Despite her efforts, she was repeatedly told her symptoms were related to long Covid and that she was too young to have cancer. Tragically, Jessica passed away later that year from advanced stage 4 cancer.
The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, described Jessica’s death as a preventable tragedy. He emphasized the importance of the new rule in improving patient safety by helping GPs identify potentially life-threatening illnesses sooner. Jessica, a talented engineer at Airbus, began experiencing troubling symptoms in July 2020. Her condition deteriorated over time, with symptoms including weight loss, night sweats, chronic fatigue, and enlarged lymph nodes. Despite reaching out to her GP multiple times and seeing six different doctors, Jessica was not referred to a specialist until it was too late.
Jess’s family hopes that the implementation of Jess’s Rule will raise awareness about the importance of prompt action by GPs when a patient’s condition is steadily deteriorating. The rule serves as a strong reminder for doctors to reconsider a diagnosis if a patient’s condition does not improve after three appointments. This can involve arranging face-to-face consultations, ordering additional tests, seeking a second opinion, or referring the patient to a specialist. The Royal College of General Practitioners has collaborated with Jessica’s family to create an educational resource for GPs on the early diagnosis of cancer in young adults.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting expressed gratitude to Jessica’s family for their tireless advocacy in the face of unimaginable grief. He stressed that patient safety must be a fundamental principle of the NHS, and Jess’s Rule will help ensure that every patient receives thorough, compassionate, and safe care. The rule has garnered support from organizations like Healthwatch England, which advocates for the swift and consistent implementation of Jess’s Rule across the country to support both patients and hard-working GPs
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