Jess’s Rule: “Three Strikes and Rethink” in GP Care

In September 2025, the NHS England introduced Jess’s Rule , a new patient-safety initiative designed to reduce missed or delayed diagnoses in general practice.

The rule is named after Jessica Brady, who tragically died from cancer in 2020 after visiting her GP more than 20 times with ongoing symptoms before receiving a diagnosis. Her family campaigned for change to help prevent similar cases in the future.

Jess’s Rule encourages a simple approach: “Three strikes and rethink.”

If a patient contacts their GP practice three times about the same issue and it isn’t improving, clinicians are encouraged to:

• Reflect on what might have been missed

• Review the patient’s history and symptoms

• Rethink the diagnosis, including arranging tests, referrals, or a face-to-face appointment if needed

While many GPs already use this type of safety-netting, Jess’s Rule formalises the approach across England to ensure persistent symptoms are taken seriously.

For patients, the message is clear: If you’re still worried, it’s okay to go back.

Have you experienced anything like this? Then please do:

Share your experiences with Healthwatch West Berkshire.

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