Overview

• GPs are instructed to review the diagnosis after three appointments without a clear explanation or with worsening symptoms, considering face-to-face exams, second opinions, further tests or referral.
• The rule is named for Jessica Brady, 27, who contacted her GP surgery about 20 times before a late stage 4 cancer diagnosis and died three weeks later in 2020.
• NHS England introduced the policy with the Royal College of General Practitioners, which has produced an educational toolkit to support earlier cancer detection in young adults.
• The Department of Health and Social Care says the approach standardizes practices some GPs already use to reduce missed or delayed diagnoses such as cancer.
• Healthwatch England welcomed the change but urged rapid, consistent implementation and sufficient specialist capacity to handle potential increases in referrals.