Job summary
"The next of kin are at the heart of everything we do"
We are seeking to appoint a proactive and self-motivated doctor to join our team of medical examiners at North & Mid Hampshire Medical Examiner Service.
Since 9 September 2024 when the service became statutory, all acute, non-acute and community deaths that do not require a coroner's referral must be scrutinised by a medical examiner before the death can be registered.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will
- provide greater safeguards for the public by ensuring independent scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths
- ensure the appropriate direction of deaths to the coroner
- provide a better service for the bereaved and an opportunity for them to raise any concerns to a doctor not involved in the care of the decreased
- improve the quality of death certification
- support local learning and improvement by identifying matters that require escalation to local clinical governance and other processes
- improve the quality of mortality data
The ME service interacts with many clinical specialities from both the acute and non-acute setting, strengthening links between the health services, coroners' offices and register offices.
Medical Examiners are senior doctors from a diverse variety of clinical specialties in secondary and primary care. We are looking to recruit someone with experience of caring for and/or reviewing a broad cross-section of patients; and in particular experience of mortality review / governance would be a strong bonus. You will work closely with our team of Medical Examiner Officers, who are vital to the efficient running of the service.
About us
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the major provider of hospital services to the population of North and mid Hampshire and surrounding areas. The hospitals in Basingstoke and Winchester provide a comprehensive range of acute services as well as being a tertiary referral centre for colorectal, liver, peritoneal carcinomatosis, haemophilia and pseudomyxoma surgery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Medical Examiner (ME) must be a medical practitioner registered with a licence to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least five-years of experience. The post-holder must have been registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.
The main responsibilities are to:
- ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current processes of certification, investigation (by coroners) and registration of deaths
- support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death
- scrutinise the certified causes of all in-scope deaths
- maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis for clinical governance purposes
- explain to bereaved relatives cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner
- support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs
- engage with relevant governance activities relating to death certification
- support the Medical Examiner Officers in carrying out their role and with their continuing professional development
- Attend catch-up meetings for all MEs and MEOs which are currently 6 per year (4 x remote, 1 x face to face on either RHCH or BNHH site, and 1 'Away Day' (in-house training off site face to face).
For further details / informal visits or to arrange a conversation with our Lead MEO, Lisa Birkett 01962 824073
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Medical Examiner (ME) must be a medical practitioner registered with a licence to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least five-years of experience. The post-holder must have been registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.
The main responsibilities are to:
- ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current processes of certification, investigation (by coroners) and registration of deaths
- support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death
- scrutinise the certified causes of all in-scope deaths
- maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis for clinical governance purposes
- explain to bereaved relatives cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner
- support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs
- engage with relevant governance activities relating to death certification
- support the Medical Examiner Officers in carrying out their role and with their continuing professional development
- Attend catch-up meetings for all MEs and MEOs which are currently 6 per year (4 x remote, 1 x face to face on either RHCH or BNHH site, and 1 'Away Day' (in-house training off site face to face).
For further details / informal visits or to arrange a conversation with our Lead MEO, Lisa Birkett 01962 824073
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Medical Practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC
- Successfully completed the mandatory e-learning modules before the start of the role
Desirable
- Completed ME face-to-face training via RCPath
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Doctor with experience of caring for and/or reviewing a broad cross-section of hospital patients
- 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
- Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems and an understanding of how the ME can work collaboratively to improve patient safety by identifying sub optimal clinical and organisational performance
- Up to date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification
- Knowledge of special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity
Desirable
- Be familiar with the role and function of the Coroner and be able to present complex medical information in such a way as to assist the Coroner to decide whether to investigate a death about which they have been notified
- Experience of mortality review and related practice, departmental, divisional or Trust governance processes.
Skills and Ability
Essential
- Ability to assimilate information quickly and summarise succinctly
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism
- Commitment to lifelong learning and undertaking personal development opportunities
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Medical Practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC
- Successfully completed the mandatory e-learning modules before the start of the role
Desirable
- Completed ME face-to-face training via RCPath
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Doctor with experience of caring for and/or reviewing a broad cross-section of hospital patients
- 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
- Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems and an understanding of how the ME can work collaboratively to improve patient safety by identifying sub optimal clinical and organisational performance
- Up to date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification
- Knowledge of special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity
Desirable
- Be familiar with the role and function of the Coroner and be able to present complex medical information in such a way as to assist the Coroner to decide whether to investigate a death about which they have been notified
- Experience of mortality review and related practice, departmental, divisional or Trust governance processes.
Skills and Ability
Essential
- Ability to assimilate information quickly and summarise succinctly
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism
- Commitment to lifelong learning and undertaking personal development opportunities
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
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).
