Job summary
Job Title -Medical Examiner
Hours per week-0.10 sessions per week
Perm/Fixed Term-Permanent
Salary-£7,900 - £12,000 per annum
Closing Date-22/04/2024
Interview Date-30/04/2024
Applications are invited for the post of Medical Examiner based at the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust. This is an important role and will strengthen our process around Learning from Deaths and improve engagement with bereaved families. Medical Examiners will in due course scrutinise all deaths: in the first instance, all hospital deaths will be reviewed, and Medical Examiners will discuss death certification with the attending doctor completing the death certificate, speak to bereaved relatives if they have concerns and liaise with coroners as required.
This post may close early due to high numbers of applicationsso you are advised to apply promptly.
All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.
A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.
Careers at George Eliot - 'Where you make a difference'
Main duties of the job
Ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current processes of certification, investigation (by coroners) and registration of deaths. Depending on future plans following the Coronavirus Act, if needed support doctors with medical advice on suspected natural causes of death before they prepare an MCCD, and provide general medical advice to the coroner, or support whatever process is implemented regarding MCCD. Scrutinise the certified causes of all in-scope deaths in a way that is compliant with the national protocol. Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths and undertake analysis and provide information as required to ONS & locally for clinical governance purposes and identify deaths to be referred to the mortality groups in the Trust. Identify deaths that could potentially be reported as untoward serious incidents via the Trusts' governance systems . Explain to bereaved relatives cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner, which respects different faith, cultural, ethnic and diversity considerations or delegate where appropriate for Medical Examiner Officer to do so. As above dependant on the Coronavirus Act support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs and provide feedback on accuracy of certification locally. Liaise with the Medical Director if additional themes for learning from deaths are identified that are not captured in above process.
About us
Here at George Eliot our vision to 'excel at patient care' takes centre stage. An ever evolving clinically-led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:
Effective Open Communication
excellence and safety in everything we do
Challenge but support
Expect respect and dignity
Local health that inspires confidence
Benefits:On-site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, extensive in-house course learning directory, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be expected to comply with national protocols to ensure that in each case the cause of death is scrutinised in a way that is robust, proportionate and consistent.
You must have up to date knowledge of medical conditions, treatments and medicines which may or may not have contributed to death, and be able to exercise judgement in where to seek specialist advice in order to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required.
Comply with local protocols to ensure that every death is reviewed as necessary in a way that is robust, proportionate and consistent.
Exercise judgement in where to seek specialist advice in order to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required
Support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs and provide feedback on accuracy of certification locally.
Support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death when writing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) if the patients consultant is not available to give help.
Scrutinise the causes of deaths where an MCCD is to be or has been completed.
Complete the second part of the Cremation Form, where applicable, including speaking to relevant members of the clinical team and relatives and conducting an external examination of the body
You must be able to distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and to decide where a death must be reported to, and investigated by, a coroner.
Be familiar with the role and function of the Coroner and able to present complex medical information in such a way as to assist the Coroner in deciding whether to investigate a death about which they have been notified.
Additionally, you must have detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to:
- Coroners and death certification;
- Deaths abroad where bodies are returned to England and Wales for disposal;
- Deaths where relatives wish to transport the body abroad for disposal;
- Certifying and registering deaths and the regulations to authorise cremation or burials of stillbirths
Medical Examiners will be responsible for maintaining comprehensive records in an appropriate format and use an IT solution as required to document.
Attend relevant local, and national activities in order to maintain up to date knowledge of the Medical Examiner role and to ensure compliance with legal and procedural requirements associated with the current processes of certification, investigation (by coroners) and registration.
Have completed the on line national training programme for Medical Examiners designed by the Royal College of Pathologists and available on the Health Education England website
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be expected to comply with national protocols to ensure that in each case the cause of death is scrutinised in a way that is robust, proportionate and consistent.
You must have up to date knowledge of medical conditions, treatments and medicines which may or may not have contributed to death, and be able to exercise judgement in where to seek specialist advice in order to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required.
Comply with local protocols to ensure that every death is reviewed as necessary in a way that is robust, proportionate and consistent.
Exercise judgement in where to seek specialist advice in order to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required
Support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs and provide feedback on accuracy of certification locally.
Support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death when writing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) if the patients consultant is not available to give help.
Scrutinise the causes of deaths where an MCCD is to be or has been completed.
Complete the second part of the Cremation Form, where applicable, including speaking to relevant members of the clinical team and relatives and conducting an external examination of the body
You must be able to distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and to decide where a death must be reported to, and investigated by, a coroner.
Be familiar with the role and function of the Coroner and able to present complex medical information in such a way as to assist the Coroner in deciding whether to investigate a death about which they have been notified.
Additionally, you must have detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to:
- Coroners and death certification;
- Deaths abroad where bodies are returned to England and Wales for disposal;
- Deaths where relatives wish to transport the body abroad for disposal;
- Certifying and registering deaths and the regulations to authorise cremation or burials of stillbirths
Medical Examiners will be responsible for maintaining comprehensive records in an appropriate format and use an IT solution as required to document.
Attend relevant local, and national activities in order to maintain up to date knowledge of the Medical Examiner role and to ensure compliance with legal and procedural requirements associated with the current processes of certification, investigation (by coroners) and registration.
Have completed the on line national training programme for Medical Examiners designed by the Royal College of Pathologists and available on the Health Education England website
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- oExperience of undertaking clinical case note reviews as part of Mortality and Morbidity or Serious Incident process
- oCommitment to maintain knowledge and keep general medical skills and knowledge up to date.
- oAbility to act proportionately and report sub-standard clinical and organisational performance to relevant colleagues to protect patients and to identify good practice and ensure the spread of knowledge amongst relevant colleagues
- oWorking knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment,
- oUp to date knowledge of clinical causes of death, together with death certification requirements and processes.
- oAbility to distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and when death must be reported to, and investigated by, a coroner
- oAwareness of equality and diversity issues within the community and a demonstrable ability to understand the requirements of diverse faith groups
- oHeld a GMC licence to practice for minimum 5 years.
- oContinuing professional development
- No current performance issues
Desirable
- oExperience of applying principles of Quality Improvement
- oChair of Speciality Mortality and Morbidity or Audit Group
- oPart 2 Cremation Form Completion process
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- oExperience of undertaking clinical case note reviews as part of Mortality and Morbidity or Serious Incident process
- oCommitment to maintain knowledge and keep general medical skills and knowledge up to date.
- oAbility to act proportionately and report sub-standard clinical and organisational performance to relevant colleagues to protect patients and to identify good practice and ensure the spread of knowledge amongst relevant colleagues
- oWorking knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment,
- oUp to date knowledge of clinical causes of death, together with death certification requirements and processes.
- oAbility to distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and when death must be reported to, and investigated by, a coroner
- oAwareness of equality and diversity issues within the community and a demonstrable ability to understand the requirements of diverse faith groups
- oHeld a GMC licence to practice for minimum 5 years.
- oContinuing professional development
- No current performance issues
Desirable
- oExperience of applying principles of Quality Improvement
- oChair of Speciality Mortality and Morbidity or Audit Group
- oPart 2 Cremation Form Completion process
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
