Lorraine viewers gasp ‘what a kick in the teeth!’ as Wes Streeting insists ‘listen to your doctors’ just after grieving mother reveals how misdiagnosis killed her daughter

Wes Streeting today sparked outrage after urging Brits to ‘listen to your doctors’ just moments after a grieving mother emotionally shared how her daughter died despite contacting her GP more than 20 times.

The Health Secretary’s words were branded a ‘kick in the teeth’ as he appeared on Lorraine alongside Andrea Brady, who lost her 27-year-old daughter to cancer after her symptoms were repeatedly dismissed by doctors.

They appeared on the sofa to discuss launch of ‘Jess’s Rule’ – a new NHS initiative which urges GPs to ‘think again’ if they see a sick patient three times without a clear diagnosis or if their symptoms are getting worse.

The rule is named in honour of Jessica Brady, a gifted engineer from Stevenage who worked at Airbus on satellite design. 

She sought medical help more than 20 times after falling unwell in summer 2020, but was repeatedly told her symptoms were long Covid and that she was ‘too young for cancer‘. She tragically died later that year from stage four cancer.

Jessica’s mother appeared on Lorraine to share the tragic story alongside the Health Secretary, admitting she was driven by her daughter’s ‘dignity’ and ‘courage’.

But moments later, Mr Streeting spoke to condemn Donald Trump for suggesting there is a link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism, insisting: ‘Listen to British doctors, British science, the NHS.’

Many viewers felt his phrasing was ill-timed, coming directly after Andrea had described how Jessica’s doctors failed to diagnose her illness.

Wes Streeting urged people to ‘listen to your doctors’ just moments after a grieving mother revealed how her daughter died following a series of devastating misdiagnoses on Lorraine

Jess’s Rule urges GPs in England to ‘think again’ if a patient has seen them three times without a clear diagnosis, or if symptoms are worsening [Mum Andrea]

The rule is named in honour of Jessica Brady, pictured, a gifted 27-year-old engineer from Stevenage who worked at Airbus on satellite design

Andrea had described how her daughter ‘knew things weren’t right’ despite doctors reassuring her again and again she was fine. 

‘She knew her own body. She was very proactive and organised and she really wanted to look after herself but it was increasingly difficult to advocate for herself as she became more and more poorly,’ she continued.

Host Lorraine Kelly was visibly moved by Jessica’s story, telling Andrea: ‘I just wish I had met her. Well, she drove the Mars Rover, from here, she was something your daughter – wow.’

Andrea replied warmly: ‘She really was, and I’ve been telling people this week that, as a tribute to Jess, her boss arranged for the last satellite Jess worked on to be dedicated to her.

‘They were going to tell her on the Monday and, devastatingly, she died on the Saturday. 

‘It was launched on the day of her funeral, it really was a beautiful tribute, and it said “Thank you Jess.”

‘We hope that all GP consulting rooms will have poster of Jess’s rule, and our charity is funding the publication and distribution of that poster.’

Lorraine reflected: ‘It just reminds people of the human cost and why this is so important.

‘It also maybe gives people the confidence because, certainly with my mum’s generation, it was “You don’t bother the doctor”.’

The conversation then turned to Mr Streeting, who strongly rejected Donald Trump’s recent suggestion of a link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism.

‘There is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children, none,’ he said. 

Jess (L) sought medical help more than 20 times after falling unwell in summer 2020, but was repeatedly told she was ‘too young for cancer’ before she died that year from stage 4 cancer

Her mother, Andrea, appeared on Lorraine to share her daughter’s story alongside the Health Secretary

Host Lorraine Kelly (pictured) was visibly moved, telling Andrea: ‘I just wish I had met her. She was something your daughter – wow’

‘In fact, a major study was done back in 2024 in Sweden involving 2.4 million children and it did not uphold those claims. 

‘Don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine. 

‘Don’t even take my word for it as a politician, listen to British doctors, British science, the NHS. 

‘It’s really important at a time when there is a lot of scepticism, we’ve got to follow medical science, we’ve got to follow the evidence.’

But many viewers were left stunned by the timing of Mr Streeting’s remarks.

One asked pointedly: ‘Did he just say, “Don’t listen to me, listen to your doctor,” after just talking about a girl who was misdiagnosed by doctors 20 times?’

Another wrote: ‘”Trust your doctor.” Kick in the teeth for that poor Mum after the discussion they’ve just had!’

Others echoed: ‘”Trust your doctor”… after the discussion they’ve just had…’ and ‘Follow the science, where have we heard that before?’

Mr Streeting has previously called Jessica’s death ‘a preventable and unnecessary tragedy’ and said Jess’s Rule will help GPs ‘catch potentially deadly illnesses’.

Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 from 9:30am and is available to stream on ITVX.