Overview

• From today across NHS England, GPs are asked to think again after three appointments without a substantiated diagnosis or with worsening symptoms.
• Actions encouraged include face-to-face examinations, comprehensive record reviews, second opinions, additional tests, and appropriate specialist referrals.
• The initiative, developed by NHS England and the Royal College of General Practitioners, comes with an educational toolkit focused on earlier cancer diagnosis in young adults.
• The policy is named for Jessica Brady, 27, who died in 2020 after more than 20 GP contacts and a late private diagnosis of stage 4 adenocarcinoma.
• Officials cite research showing half of 16–24-year-olds needed three or more GP interactions before a cancer diagnosis, and patient advocates warn increased referrals will require sufficient specialist capacity.