Forgotten Patients: Overlooked Diseases

GP surgeries across England will begin displaying posters promoting a new NHS patient safety initiative known as Jess’s Rule . The rule encourages doctors to “think again”  when they have been unable to reach a clear diagnosis after seeing a patient three times, or when symptoms persist or escalate. Jess’s Rule represents a meaningful shift in how diagnostic uncertainty is approached in primary care. It recognises that persistent symptoms should not be dismissed and that revi

Australia will implement a nationwide restriction preventing all under-16s from having accounts on major social-media platforms. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024  requires platforms to verify a user’s age and block younger teenagers — a policy intended to protect children from online harm. But for young people living with chronic, poorly understood, or medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), the implications go far beyond online safety. At FPOD, w

As winter settles in and festive lights begin to sparkle, many people look forward to this time of year — a chance to gather with family, to celebrate, to rest. Yet for those living with long-term or medically unexplained symptoms, Christmas can bring a complex mix of emotions. The world seems to speed up just as your body demands that you slow down. Invitations arrive, expectations rise, and it can feel as though you’re watching the festivities through a frosted window — clo

Crossing the finish line at the Royal Parks Half Marathon was more than a personal achievement — it was a step toward greater awareness for those living with medically unexplained symptoms. In this post, I share the journey from training to race day, and how every mile helped support Forgotten Patients, Overlooked Diseases.

When Natalie Bralee-Brett was just three years old, she underwent surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital for spina bifida. Her mother...

Discover how AI technology restored the lost voice of Sarah Ezekiel, who has lived with motor neurone disease (MND) for 25 years. From just eight seconds of scratchy audio, her real voice was recreated, bringing back identity, emotion, and connection for her and her family

Martha’s Rule gives patients and families the right to call for a rapid review if concerns are ignored. Learn what it means, why it matters, and how it can save lives.

At Forgotten Patients, Overlooked Diseases  we share the voices of people living with conditions that are too often misunderstood or...

In recent weeks, the heartbreaking story of Sophie Rottenberg , a 29-year-old American woman, has made international headlines. Sophie...

For many people living with persistent health problems, the most difficult part of their journey is not just the pain or fatigue they...

On Wednesday 26th June , we welcomed a diverse and passionate group of attendees to our Forgotten Patients, Overlooked Diseases...

Date:  Thursday, 26th June 2025 Time:  14:00–17:30 (with lunch from 13:30) Venue:  The Vestry House, St Giles-in-the-Fields, London, WC2H...

In every health system, there are patients who fall through the cracks. They are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or entirely...