NHS England: The national medical examiner system (last updated June 2022)

Summary

A new medical examiner system is being rolled-out across England and Wales to provide greater scrutiny of deaths. The system will also offer a point of contact for bereaved families to raise concerns about the care provided prior to the death of a loved one. 

Acute trusts in England and local health boards in Wales have been asked to begin setting up medical examiner offices to initially focus on the certification of all deaths that occur in their own organisation. 

The purpose of the medical examiner system is to:

• provide greater safeguards for the public by ensuring proper scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths 
• ensure the appropriate direction 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.

Content

The web page includes: 

• introduction to the medical examiner system
• medical examiners
• medical examiner offices at acute trusts in England
• regional support
• the national medical examiner
• national medical examiner updates
• events and training.