Deaths in England and Wales to be reviewed by senior doctor if not referred to coroner

The death certification system in England and Wales will get its biggest overhaul in decades next month, with a change designed to improve public protection.

Every death that has not been referred to a coroner will have to be referred to a medical examiner from 9 September, under regulations laid before parliament in April.

The new system will provide independent scrutiny and an opportunity for the bereaved to speak about care and treatment in the lead-up to a death. It is intended that the overhaul will give assurance to relatives and reduce the risk of NHS scandals or malicious action by medical practitioners.

Dr Alan Fletcher, the national medical examiner for England and Wales, said: “I am delighted that medical examiners will soon review every death in England and Wales not investigated by a coroner. The death certification reforms are a significant step towards ensuring serious issues are identified quickly and passed on for action.”

Medical examiners will be part of a national network of trained independent senior doctors, scrutinising all deaths that do not fall under a coroner’s jurisdiction. They will ensure the accuracy of the death certificate, establish whether the death should be referred to a coroner and whether there are any clinical governance concerns.

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Source: The Guardian, 24 August 2024