GPs to Face ‘Three Strikes’ Review Process Under New Patient Safety Rule
london, UK – General practitioners in England will now be required to consider a second opinion, physical examinations, and further testing if initial diagnoses and treatments don’t show betterment, under a new patient safety protocol dubbed “jess’s Rule.” The initiative, launched today, is a direct response to the preventable death of Jessica Brady, a 16-year-old who died after an initial misdiagnosis led to delays in critical care.
The rule, developed in collaboration with the Chair of the Royal College of General practitioners (RCGP) and NHS England, aims to prevent similar tragedies by formalizing a process of review and escalation. It mandates that if a patient doesn’t improve after three attempts at treatment, GPs should proactively seek option diagnoses and specialist referrals.The move comes amid growing scrutiny of access to in-person appointments and concerns about diagnostic errors within the primary care system.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described Brady’s death as “a preventable and unnecessary tragedy,” stating, “I don’t want any family to endure the pain Jessica’s family have been through.This government will learn from such tragedies and is taking decisive action to improve patient safety.”
Under Jess’s Rule, doctors will be encouraged to prioritize face-to-face physical examinations, order additional tests, and consult with specialists when initial treatments prove ineffective. RCGP Chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne emphasized that reviewing diagnoses and considering alternative approaches is “best practice,” adding, “We hope that by formalising this with Jess’s Rule, it will remind GPs to keep this at the forefront of thier minds.”
The implementation of jess’s Rule follows the recent rollout of “Martha’s Rule” to all acute hospitals in England, another patient safety measure designed to empower patients and families to raise concerns about their care. Further NHS initiatives include the publication of hospital performance league tables, offering greater openness in healthcare quality.
