On 9 September 2024, death certification reforms for England and Wales came into effect which mean that all deaths are now reviewed independently, either by a medical examiner or a coroner, before a certificate can be issued.
There have been several reports in the media recently about some funerals being held up since these changes. However, we’d like to reassure families that, here at Tester & Jones, we haven’t witnessed this new system causing our families too many delays.
That said, there are always deaths which might need a little more paperwork before our families can go ahead with the service but this has always been the case. This includes deaths overseas which involve repatriation and deaths in unusual circumstances.
This new procedure marks the biggest shake-up to the system since the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953. Under the new system, which was brought about partly in response to Harold Shipman’s murders, GPs no longer issue death certificates independently. After a GP completes a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD), an independent medical examiner reviews it and speaks to the family. Once approved, the certificate is sent to the registrar, who officially records the death. The process means GPs have to give access to a patient's records in order for the medical examiner to decide if they agree with the MCCD.
The role of medical examiners is to provide independent scrutiny of the cause of death, as well as offering the bereaved an opportunity to speak about care and treatment in the lead-up to a death.
As a SAIF approved funeral director, our team has been fully briefed by the organisation about this updated procedure and our team is ready, as ever, to support families. Please do give us a call if you have any questions or concerns: 01892 611811.
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