Have you heard of Jess’s Rule?
This week, posters about Jess’s Rule were placed in every GP surgery across the UK.
This action serves as a reminder to healthcare staff that repeat appointments should be explored further and thoroughly investigated.
Jessica Brady passed away from cancer in December 2020 after 20 consultations with her GP had failed to diagnose her condition. She was aged just 27. These 20 consultations were carried out within a space of just 5 months.
Jess’s Rule is a campaign launched to help prevent future missed diagnosis. It states that after three appointments with a GP without a diagnosis, the patient’s health will be elevated for in depth investigation to try and find out what the cause of their symptoms is.
The campaign encourages healthcare staff to reflect, review and rethink.
Reflect
“Think back on what the patient has said and consider what has changed or been missed. Offer ongoing episodic continuity of care for future direct patient care. If previous consultations have been remote, see the patient face-to-face and conduct a physical examination.”
Review
“Where underlying uncertainty exists, consider seeking a view from a peer and review any red flags that may suggest another diagnosis, regardless of the patient’s age or demographic.”
Rethink
“If appropriate, refer onwards for further tests or for specialist input.”
What to do if you are worried about persistent undiagnosed symptoms:
If you have visited your GP several times about a symptom without receiving a clear diagnosis, you can contact your GP to discuss whether they believe further investigation is a good idea. If you have mostly been having telephone consultations, it is likely you will be asked to have a face-to-face appointment.
If you would like to tell Healthwatch about your experience, you can get in touch with us via email to: