Lead Medical Examiner

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 02 February 2026

The Medical Examiner role has 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 Medical Examiner system promotes robust, transparent and independent scrutiny of death certification processes.

NHS England announced that all organisations in England should institute a Medical Examiner (ME) role in secondary care from April 2019. The Medical Examiner system is now developed in Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. This post is a replacement post due to the vacancy arising following the resignation of the current incumbent. The Lead Medical Examiner will support the current service, providing leadership to the Medical Examiner team.

To ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current and proposed reformed processes of certification, investigation by Coroners and registration of deaths.

To 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.

To maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiner's office.

To participate in relevant clinical governance activities relating to death certification including audits, mortality review processes and investigations regarding formal complaints about patient care.

To support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.

To work with Medical Examiner Officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate.

To engage with Lead ME and Lead MEO for the region.

To adopt a collaborative working relationship with other MEs by sharing experiences and expertise to support peer learning and set uniform standards of service delivery.

To provide leadership to the Medical Examiner team.

To ensure that there is always appropriate Medical Examiner cover in place, accounting for planned leave.

As one of the United Kingdom's largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents - it's not just a good place to work; it's a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade.

Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south.

The Lead Medical Examiner should be aware of how their personal communication style impacts on others and be able to adapt their approach to suit a variety of situations and audiences. This will require:

• Highly evolved self‑awareness and empathetic skills to liaise effectively and sympathetically with bereaved families.
• The ability to demonstrate and combine appropriate levels of compassion with professionalism and discretion.
• Being open to constructive criticism, ideas and solutions.
• Acting as a positive role model and interacting appropriately with all stakeholders including MEOs, other MEs, the bereaved and the coroner.
• Having the integrity to gain trust and comply with the independent nature of the ME role in the context of other clinical specialty duties.

Accountability

The Lead medical Examiner will have professional independence in scrutinising deaths but will be accountable to the employing organisations Board for achieving agreed standards or levels of performance. The Lead Medical Examiner will have an independent professional line of accountability to a regional structure of NHS England outside the employing organisation and immediate line management structure. The Lead Medical Examiner will comply with guidance issued by the National Medical…