The team review medical records and give bereaved people the chance to ask questions about the care their loved one received prior to their death.

Last week we shared detailed information on the statutory changes for the Medical Examiner (ME) Service. 

The key information to note is:

  • The core process of ME scrutiny has not changed. Clinicians must refer all non-coronial deaths to the ME Service and complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).
  • We cannot release a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death until it has been agreed by the ME service, so please don't ask relatives to go to the General Office the following day as previously. The ME Team will liaise with them directly.

Urgent referrals over the weekend - beginning Saturday 14 September

  • The ME service will be available to accept referrals for urgent release between 08:30 and 09:30 on Saturdays and Sundays
  • If no referrals are received during that time, then the ME will not be contactable until the following day
  • If a referral is received, the ME will scrutinise the death(s) expecting to complete scrutiny by 11:30 at the latest
  • This service model has been designed on the following:
    • To align with local registrars' office hours at weekends
    • The predicted caseload
  • Contact can be made via:
  • The required information we will need are as follows:
    • A formal referral with completed MCCD so that can be countersigned by the ME to complete scrutiny
    • Contact details for the doctor who is referring the death so we can discuss any details with them
    • Contact details for the next of kin who is dealing with death registration