What you need to know about life-saving Jess’s Rule

• Jess's Rule is being implemented across England to help diagnose potentially deadly illnesses sooner and prevent avoidable deaths.
• The new rule instructs GPs to adopt a "three strikes and rethink" approach for patients who have had three appointments without a substantial diagnosis or whose symptoms have worsened.
• The rule is named after Jessica Brady, who died aged 27 from cancer in 2020 after approximately 20 GP appointments where her symptoms were not correctly diagnosed.
• Under Jess's Rule, doctors will be encouraged to seek second opinions, conduct face-to-face examinations, order more tests, and make specialist referrals when appropriate.
• The initiative, supported by Jessica's mother Andrea Brady, has been rolled out in partnership with the Royal College of GPs and NHS England, aiming to standardise best practice in complex cases.

IN FULL

Jess’s Rule rolled out across GP surgeries to prevent avoidable deaths