In September 2025, NHS England announced the introduction of Jess’s Rule, a new patient-safety measure for general practice. Under the rule, if a patient visits their GP three times with unresolved or worsening symptoms, the GP is expected to reassess the diagnosis—considering fresh tests, referrals, or alternative explanations (NHS England, Sept 2025).

Jess’s Rule is named in memory of Jessica Brady, who tragically died in 2020 after multiple GP visits failed to pick up her underlying cancer. It aims to ensure that persistent symptoms trigger a more structured re-evaluation, reducing the risk of serious illness being overlooked.

Guidance, Not Law

It’s important to note that Jess’s Rule is clinical guidance, not legislation. GPs are being encouraged—and expected—to adopt it as part of good practice. While not enforceable in law, such guidance often becomes highly influential in determining the standard of care in future negligence cases.=

Why This Matters for Solicitors

Although brand new, Jess’s Rule could shape medico-legal arguments in delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis claims. Key implications include:

• Standard of care: Courts may start asking whether a GP applied Jess’s Rule. If not, a claimant could argue that reasonable practice was breached.

• Medical evidence: Experts will be expected to comment not just on traditional diagnostic steps, but on whether “three strikes and rethink” was applied.

• Case strategy: For now, firms should treat Jess’s Rule as an emerging yardstick—not yet case law, but likely to be cited in pleadings and defences.

A “Watch This Space” Moment

Jess’s Rule has clear potential to influence clinical negligence litigation, but its practical impact will take time to unfold. Implementation challenges (capacity, referral delays, resource pressures) may also affect how consistently it is applied.

For legal teams, the value lies in being aware early: spotting when Jess’s Rule may be relevant, briefing experts accordingly, and anticipating how courts could interpret compliance.

Comment from UKExpertMedical

At UKExpertMedical, our panel of GP and specialist experts are ready to assess cases against evolving standards like Jess’s Rule. As patient-safety initiatives become guidance, we ensure solicitors receive clear, court-ready medical evidence on whether those standards were met.

This is an early development, but one that could reshape the landscape of primary-care negligence in the years to come.