Important changes to medical certificate of Cause of Death coming soon!
The go-live of the Medical Examiners Service
The Medical Examiner (ME) Service is still in motion for Spring 2024 but we do not have a clear date of statute. Across NW London we are still working with practices to ensure all GPs are using the service.
Being ready to use the Medical Examiner serviceFor the Medical Examiner Service GP practices need to be set up with the new IT system.
The NW London IT team can support practices with the set-up please contact:
tsmith8@nhs.netGuides for SystmOne and EMIS can be found below – along with FAQs, staff and public information on the ME service.
NEW:
Medical examiner process :: North West London ICS (nwlondonicb.nhs.uk)Practices already using the ME service - please continue to do so, we would like all practices using the service by April.
Along with go-live of the ME service there are changes to the legislation on medical certificates of cause death (MCCD) and we are waiting for clarity on a date for these changes to become statute. For now, we would like all GPs to be aware these changes are coming
Changes to the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)1. A revised version of the MCCD is imminent. New MCCD books will be issued nationally - the new medical certificates of cause of death must be used from the date of statute – old ones will be rejected from the date of statute.
a. New certificate books will be ordered for GP practices and distributed by the Department of Health.
2. The requirements for issuing a MCCD have changed. This no longer needs to be a medical practitioner who has seen the patient alive in the last 28 days of life, but any practitioner who has seen the patient in life. They must be able to formulate cause of death “to the best of their knowledge and belief”.
3. New fields will also be added to the MCCD:
- Ethnicity
- Presence/absence of a medical device
- Additional line 1d - The cause of death is currently expressed as immediate, direct cause of death and its underlying causes (1a, 1b and 1c) and any contributory causes of death (II). With the new legislation, and to bring us in line with other countries, section 1 will be expanded to have 1d as well as 1a-c.
Changes to the process4. From the date of statute, the MCCD must be sent to the Registrar office by the Medical Examiner’s office. The completed MCCD must therefore be sent to the ME office by the GP, and not direct to the Registrar office
5. The MCCD will be signed by the Medical Examiner before it is then sent to the Registrar. The ME’s office will CC the GP.
6. The crematorium form 4 is being abolished as this new process will be in place.
