Job overview
The Medical Examiner Service at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been established successfully since 2020. We are now looking to recruit 2 x enthusiastic and highly motivated Medical Examiners (MEs) for 1 x PA/Sessions per week each.
Our service of MEs and Medical Examiner Officers (MEOs) combine clinical and administrative skills, compassion and sensitivity and a commitment to engage with bereaved families to complete a review of every in-hospital and community death across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast.
In addition to effective scrutiny of MCCDs (death certificates), MEs provide medical advice to coroners and advice to certifying doctors. They work with NHS colleagues to use the information they collect to support clinical governance and they assist in training doctors and other healthcare professionals on the appropriate certification of death.
All Medical Examiner undergo formal training appropriate to the role, as stipulated by the Royal College of Pathologists, and will continue to train on the job as part of a lifelong learning role.
Main duties of the job
The ME Office is an independent service hosted by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The role of the team is to: -
- provide greater safeguards for the public by ensuring proper scrutiny of all non - coronial deaths
- ensure the appropriate referral of deaths to the coroner
- provide a better service for the bereaved and an opportunity for them to raise any concerns to a Doctor not involved in the care of the deceased
- improve the quality of death certification
- improve the quality of mortality data
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Medical Examiners (MEs) are appropriately trained doctors who will verify clinical information on Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs) and ensure that the right referrals are made to the coroner for further investigation. A practicing medical practitioner who has been on the General Medical Council register for a minimum of five years post registration can apply to be a medical examiner. It is recommended that medical examiners are consultant grade doctors from a range of disciplines (including GP Principles). MEs will take a consistent approach to the formulation of MCCD, content, which must be clinically accurate and reflect any discussions with the next of kin/informant. MEs must not have been involved in the care of the deceased patients for deaths they scrutinise. The Medical Examiner office is hosted by the Acute Trust but remains independent in its function to independently scrutinise all deaths within the Blackpool area.
Person specification
Skills and ability
Essential
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
- IT skills including use of email and commonly used office software
- Willingness to undertake training required for the job.
Expreince & Knowledge
Essential
- Up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes.
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity
Desirable
- Experience of practicing as a Medical Examiner
- Experience of managing/delivering postgraduate training.
Education & Qualification
Essential
- Full registration with the General Medical Council
- Clearance by Occupational Health to carry out the full range of duties of the post.
- Completion of the mandatory components of the national online medical examiner curriculum.
- Completion of the face-to-face RCP training programme
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant subject
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Medical Examiner with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Blackpool, North West, England. It is listed as a Consultant Medical doctor Pathology role. The advertised salary is Dependant on Experience. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 30 Jul 2026.
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