Medical Examiner

Job overview

We are seeking to expand our pool of Medical Examiners (ME) . The team sits within the Networked Care Division with professional oversight by the Medical Associate Director, Patient Safety.

The ME posts have been created by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in response to observations made in the Third Report of the Shipman Inquiry. The introduction of the statutory ME system on September 9th 2024 promotes robust, transparent and independent scrutiny of non-coronial deaths, and hold a vital role in the learning from deaths agenda. MEs report, via the lead ME, to the regional ME, and they work closely with the Coroner and Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Further information regarding the role of MEs can be found on the RCpath website. Applications from GP's and Paediatricians are encouraged.

We are looking for an ME to work 4 hours every other week.  Remote working options are also available although staff will be expected to be on-site for their training/induction. The MEs are supported by the ME Officer team based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Successful candidates would be expected to attend quarterly half-days in support of their learning and development.

Main duties of the job

Dimensions of role

Medical examiners (MEs) are appropriately trained doctors who, through a process of independent scrutiny, will verify clinical information on Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs), support identification of cases requiring coronial referral, and highlight cases where further scrutiny may be of benefit.  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 ME.  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 whose deaths they scrutinise.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current processes of certification, investigation by coroners and registration of deaths.
• Scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol.
• Discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner. It is anticipated that such discussions will be predominately conducted through telephone conversations where barriers to understanding information may exist.
• Ensure that all users of the ME system are treated with respect and are not discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.
• Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiner’s office.
• Participate in relevant clinical governance activities relating to death certification including audits, mortality review processes and investigations regarding formal complaints about patient care.
• Support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
• Work with medical examiner officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate.
• Engage with Trust ME Lead, Regional ME and MEO Leads where necessary.
• Adopt a collaborative working relationship with other MEs by sharing experiences and expertise to support peer learning and set uniform standards of service delivery.