Changes in the way you register a death from September 2024
We understand that losing a loved one is a deeply difficult experience. We want to inform you about important changes in the process of registering a death, which are designed to ensure accuracy and provide you with the support you need during this time.
What has changed?
The law has changed regarding how we issue the necessary paperwork to register a death. Before you can book an appointment with the registration service, a member of the medical examiner (ME) service will need to speak with you.
During this conversation, they will:
- Explain the wording on the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD)
- Answer any questions or address concerns you might have about the death
Once these steps have been completed, the medical examiner will sign the medical certificate issued by the attending doctor and send it directly to the Registrar of Births and Deaths.
What is the medical examiners service?
The medical examiner service is part of a National Programme which aims to review the care and treatment of all people who have died, whether at home or in hospital, to ensure good quality patient care, supportive communication with relatives and accurate documentation of the cause of death.
Medical examiners are senior doctors from a range of specialities including general practice (GP). They are assisted by medical examiner officers (MEOs), who are not doctors but have experience of the healthcare system and have had training for their role. The ME service is independent of the hospital and GP practice.
The North and Mid Hampshire medical examiners service already reviews the care and treatment of people who have died in hospital and will now be expanding its service to the local community (deaths in care homes, community hospitals, hospices and at home).
Hampshire hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Basingstoke and North Hampshire
Hospital postcode
RG24 9NA
Email
Medical.Examiner@hhft.nhs.uk
Phone
Winchester: 01962 824139 or 01962 825736
Basingstoke: 01256 313236
What does this mean for me and my family?
One of the main purposes of the service is to establish whether anything could have been done differently with the care the patient received. This is so that learning can be shared across the health care sector so that the NHS is continually using the feedback of patients and their next of kin to improve care. Death is the most inevitable significant event that happens to us all and, as such, it is important to ensure that we pause to learn and celebrate where we can. Whilst not easy, it is important to have conversations about dying.
The next of kin will receive a phone call from the ME office following a case review to discuss the proposed cause of death’ as agreed between the medical examiners, GP and next of kin, if they were involved in those discussions. This will provide an opportunity for the next of kin to ask questions and tell us about their experiences (positive and negative) about the care and treatment given to their loved one. This will not replace the support given to grieving families by the primary and community care teams.
The undertaker is responsible for the care of your loved one’s cremation paperwork (if appropriate).
Registration service from Hampshire County Council
Once the registrar has received the appropriate documentation from the medical examiner, the registrar will contact you/your family with an appointment to register the death.
For more information, visit the Hampshire County Council website.