Following our meeting with Wes Streeting in December, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has called for a roundtable of experts to discuss the viability and impact of Jess’s Law and how it might work. This roundtable will be chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, and attended by experts in medicine, primary care, and cancer care. The meeting is scheduled for Friday, 21 March.

We are grateful for and impressed by Wes Streeting’s proactivity. Our understanding is that he supports the premise of Jess’s Law and would like to explore how it can be enacted.

Of course, this is a pivotal moment in our campaign. We recognise the fragility of the situation. Not all GPs support our calls for legislation and some deem the ‘Three strikes and we rethink’ concept unnecessary.

I wanted to outline once again what Jess’s Law is calling for and how it might work.

This wording was agreed upon with NHS England and the Royal College of General Practitioners in the spring of 2023:

"If, after three consultations, a patient’s condition remains unresolved, or the symptoms are escalating and/or they have no substantiated diagnosis, the patient’s case should be elevated for review and a new assessment made."
To be clear:
Jess’s Law applies when a patient returns to their GP for the third time with a condition that remains unresolved or with escalating symptoms.
It is for patients without a substantiated diagnosis who are not getting better. (Young people diagnosed too late are often told they are suffering from stress, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, a pulled muscle, etc.)
Jess’s Law is designed to prompt GPs to think again. Our work with Professor Brendan Delaney has shown that:
a) Doctors most commonly do not deviate from their initial diagnosis—even when it is unsubstantiated.
b) Like all humans, GPs are subject to ‘unconscious bias’. If a young person, like Jess, does not fit a certain demographic or is categorised as ‘normally healthy’, they are less likely to be flagged.
Jess’s Law calls for a ‘fresh eyes’ approach. This may involve continuity of care, a second opinion, a face-to-face appointment, or a referral to secondary care and further diagnostic testing.
Jess’s Law asks for a maximum of three consultations before the ‘rethink’—though ideally, doctors should question and listen from the very first visit.
It calls for GPs to reconsider their diagnosis, really listen to the patient, consider red flags, and push aside assumptions based on ‘statistical likelihood’.
Why we need Jess’s Law:
The Government has committed to diagnosing 75% of cancers at Stage I or II by 2028. Our understanding is that 90% of cancers are diagnosed in primary care, yet they are currently far from meeting this target.
Jess’s case is not isolated or outdated. We are contacted almost daily by people sharing similar stories. Late cancer diagnoses among the under-50s are alarmingly common.
We need to think outside the box. A red flag is a red flag, regardless of demographic or statistical likelihood.
Cancer incidence rates among 25–49-year-olds in the UK have increased by approximately 22% between 1993–95 and 2016–18.
Implementing Jess’s Law would not be costly, yet it could save lives and NHS resources.
In March 2024, the NHS met its target of providing at least 75% of people with a cancer diagnosis or ruling out cancer within 28 days. However, the crucial question is: how long are people waiting before they are put on the cancer pathway? How many GP visits does it take?
Jess’s Law would benefit all patients, not just those with cancer—sepsis is an obvious example.
As always, your support in securing a successful roundtable discussion is crucial. I turn to you once again for help.

I know many of you wrote to your MP following the election in July last year. Over half (335) had never been an MP before. I also know that many of you never received a reply. Please take the time to contact them again.

Below is a new template for you to use. Bracketed sections may be included if you wrote to your MP previously. You can find your MP using this link: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

Copying and pasting this message will take just a few moments of your time, but it could have a lasting, life-changing impact. Thank you so much.

 
Dear [MP’s Name],

(You may recall that I wrote to you following the election to share information about the campaign for Jess’s Law.)

As someone who is deeply committed to improving early cancer diagnosis, I would appreciate your support for the change.org campaign, "Jess’s Law – Improve the Awareness and Diagnosis of Cancer in Young Adults": https://chng.it/VVWR9dQwQw

Following the late cancer diagnosis of their 27-year-old daughter, Jessica, the Bradys have been campaigning for Jess’s Law. The proposal is simple:

If, after three consultations, a patient’s condition remains unresolved, the symptoms are escalating, or they have no substantiated diagnosis, the patient’s case should be elevated for review and a new assessment made.
To date, the petition has received over 420,000 signatures.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has called for a roundtable of experts to discuss the viability and impact of Jess’s Law and how it might work. This roundtable will be chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, and attended by experts in medicine, primary care, and cancer care. The meeting is scheduled for Friday, 21 March.

This is a pivotal moment in the campaign.

I would be most grateful if you would write to the Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting, commending him for his proactivity and offering your support.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

 
Please continue to share Jess’s petition. Together, we can make a difference.