Jess's Rule to be promoted in all GP surgeries in England

A new initiative has arrived at GP practices because of the death of Jess Brady who had stage four cancer which was missed by GPs. Jess died at the age of 27 in 2020 after attempting to get help for feeling unwell on more than 20 occasions. Due to the pandemic of Covid-19, Jess was assured that her symptoms were as a result of ‘long covid’ and that she would feel better in time. Jess’s Rule encourages doctors to take a ‘fresh eyes’ approach to patients who return with repeated questions about symptoms in an attempt to think outside-the-box to catch serious health concerns as early as possible.

Jess had fallen ill with symptoms such as unexplained weight loss and night sweats. After seeing numerous doctors, she was finally referred to a specialist who diagnosed her with terminal cancer and she died 3 weeks later.

There are now consultation room posters which encourage GPs to look at patients records and try to challenge any previous suggestions from doctors where symptoms were unexplained. There is an encouragement to delve deeper and attempt to consider the symptoms from another angle.

Jess’s Rule is not a law but is an encouragement to remind GPs to make a referral to find answers if the patient has come to the GP on more than 3 occasions for the same symptoms. The hope is that this new rule will benefit patients and doctors where patients feel empowered to get answers for their symptoms and hopefully be treated for serious illnesses as early as possible.

Jess's Rule to be promoted in all GP surgeries in England

Questions

1. Who failed their duty of care in this instance?
2. What limitations in funding might have caused this situation?
3. What role could the pandemic have played in this instance