On 25 February 2026, Healthwatch Milton Keynes shared new advice to help people in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, use a safety rule that requires doctors to rethink a diagnosis after three visits. The guidance aims to make sure patients and their carers can speak up if symptoms do not improve or remain unexplained after multiple appointments.
The protocol, known as Jess’s Rule, was created by NHS England to act as a safety net in local surgeries. It requires a doctor to take a fresh look at a case if a patient returns three times with the same symptoms without a clear explanation or a successful treatment plan.
The rule is named after Jessica Brady, who died of cancer at age 27 in 2020 following 20 missed opportunities for a diagnosis at her doctor’s surgery. Her family worked with the Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust to campaign for the change, ensuring that medical staff take a different approach when initial treatments are not working.
Local health officials suggest that patients should specifically ask for a “fresh eyes” review and mention the rule to receptionists or doctors when booking a third follow-up appointment. Engage-Share-Inspire MK CIO, the group that now runs the local Healthwatch service, released the tips after residents asked for more information on how to challenge medical opinions.
