RCGP backs Jess' Rule to support best practice in general practice

As Jess’s Rule posters are rolled out to GP practices, Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, reiterates the RCGP’s support for the campaign and its role in strengthening diagnostic review, reflection, and patient safety in general practice. Professor Tzortziou Brown said:

“No GP ever wants to miss signs of serious illness, such as cancer. Jess's Rule formalises ‘best practice’ in general practice and underlines the importance of taking time to reflect and review a diagnosis, if a treatment plan doesn’t seem to be working. This might mean having a more in-depth conversation with the patient to see what other factors could be impacting their health, asking a colleague for a second opinion, or if appropriate, making a referral to secondary care.

“Timely diagnosis can mean better outcomes for patients - but many serious conditions, including many cancers, are challenging to identify in primary care because the symptoms are often similar to other less serious and more common conditions. The College has worked with Jess Brady’s family and the Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust to develop learning resources for GPs on diagnosing cancer in younger people. Jess’s story is an important reminder that sometimes a rare diagnosis could be the right diagnosis.” 

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.