AQW 31820/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 23/09/2025
Answered On Date: 08/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether any assessment has been made of the potential benefits of implementing Jess’s Rule for earlier cancer diagnosis.

Answer:

My Department expects medical professionals to act in line with the General Medical Council’s “Good Medical Practice” guidance, which requires medical professionals to adequately assess a patient’s condition(s), taking account of their history, carry out a physical examination where necessary, and promptly provide (or arrange) suitable advice, investigation or treatment where necessary

This should be the case whether a patient consultation takes place in person, online or via telephone.

As part of the Cancer Strategy, within Rapid Diagnosis Centres (RDC) my Department has established a Vague Symptom Pathway which offer GPs a way to refer patients with non-specific but worrying symptoms that might indicate cancer but don't fit existing "red flag" pathways. Patients receive a coordinated, one-stop assessment to investigate their symptoms, and results are reported quickly, enabling earlier diagnosis and onward referral

Two Rapid Diagnosis Centres are currently in operation, located at South Tyrone Hospital in the Southern HSC Trust and Whiteabbey Hospital in the Northern HSC Trust.

The Vague Symptom Pathway became a fully regional service in July 2024 with patients across all five Trusts in Northern Ireland now able to be referred into either of the two RDC sites directly by their GP, regardless of their location.