Medical Examiner

Overview

The Medical Examiner (ME) system was introduced in 2019 by the Department of Health and Social Care in response to the recommendations of the Shipman Enquiry, which called for reform of the death certification process. The role of the Medical Examiner is to promote robust and transparent scrutiny of the death certification process through independent review of clinical case notes and confirmation of cause of death in all patients, including the review of all deaths in the local health community of West Northamptonshire – covering primary care, community and mental health Trusts.

The role requires knowledge and experience of the statutory process around death certification, legal frameworks and the relationship between the ME service and other related organisations including Coroner’s office and Registration service.

• Registered with a licence to practice as a doctor in the UK by the GMC.
• Consultant grade doctors from a range of disciplines or GP principals are recommended.
• Minimum 5 years on the Medical register.
• Successfully completed the mandatory components of the national online Medical Examiner curriculum before employment.
• Face‑to‑face training completed within 3 months of starting in post.

• Scrutinise the clinical notes and 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 the next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner (predominantly conducted through telephone conversations).
• Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiner’s office.
• Participate in relevant activities relating to death certification, including audits.
• Support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
• Work collaboratively with other medical examiners in the local authority, sharing experiences and expertise to support peer learning and set uniform standards of service delivery.
• Work with medical examiner officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate, and engage with the lead ME and lead MEO for the region.
• Be part of an out‑of‑hours rota with other MEs to ensure urgent release of a body can be achieved if requested.

Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close any adverts before the closing date once we have received sufficient applications.

• Compassion
• Accountability
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courage

For further details / informal visits contact:
Name:
Louisa Jameson

Job title:

Lead Medical Examiner
Email address:
Telephone number: