Job summary
We are pleased to announce an opportunity to join the Medical Examiner team, based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, providing a Medical Examiner service covering the Gateshead hospital and community area.
There is 2 vacancies for 0.5 PA (4 hours alternate weeks) predominantly delivered on Thursday afternoons, with the proviso of some flexibility to cover service requirements due to annual leave.
There may be a limited on-call rota for weekend cover required in the future.
These posts are open to doctors from any specialty or clinical background, whether working in hospital, community or elsewhere, who have a minimum of 5 years of post GMC registration clinical experience, and specialty qualifications. Training is provided via the Royal College of Pathologists following appointment.
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 within the Local Authority area.
About us
The Medical Examiner service consists currently of a Lead Medical Examiner, 8 Medical Examiners, and four Medical Examiner Officers. New Medical Examiners will be supported by the Lead Medical Examiner.
The Medical Examiner service has been running at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital since September 2020, 5 days a week, excluding Bank Holidays, scrutinising all deaths in Gateshead, other than those directly referred to the coroner. This post is to replace a medical examiner who is standing down.
The Medical Examiner role will appeal to doctors who are passionate about quality improvement, learning from events, improving care for patients and experiences for relatives, and supporting junior doctors in training. It requires a broad knowledge of medicine, good analytical and IT skills, and integrity.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death before they prepare an MCCD, and provide general medical advice to the coroner;
- Scrutinise the certified causes of all in-scope deaths in a way that is compliant with the law and national guidance;
- Maintain proportionate records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis and provide information as required to ONS & locally for clinical governance purposes;
- Work with the other medical examiners in the QEH ME office to arrange reciprocal cover for holidays and other periods of absence and also to ensure that there is no potential conflict of interest between the medical examiner and the death being scrutinised;
- Explain to bereaved relatives the cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner which respects different faith, cultural, ethnic and diversity considerations;
- Support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs and provide feedback on accuracy of certification locally if required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death before they prepare an MCCD, and provide general medical advice to the coroner;
- Scrutinise the certified causes of all in-scope deaths in a way that is compliant with the law and national guidance;
- Maintain proportionate records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis and provide information as required to ONS & locally for clinical governance purposes;
- Work with the other medical examiners in the QEH ME office to arrange reciprocal cover for holidays and other periods of absence and also to ensure that there is no potential conflict of interest between the medical examiner and the death being scrutinised;
- Explain to bereaved relatives the cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner which respects different faith, cultural, ethnic and diversity considerations;
- Support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs and provide feedback on accuracy of certification locally if required.
Person Specification
Professional Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC registration with a licence to practice in the UK with at least 5 years' of GMC registered experience (whole time equivalent)
Desirable
- Inclusion on the Specialist or General Practice register.
- Membership of relevant Colleges
Professional Training
Essential
- Royal college or other post-graduate qualification
Desirable
- Completion of E-learning for Healthcare Medical Examiner modules.
Clincial Experience
Essential
- 5 years whole time equivalent of working in clinical practice in the UK post GMC registration
Communication skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate clearly and empathically with bereaved families in a way they will understand.
- Ability to communicate clearly (spoken and electronic) with colleagues, attending doctors and other relevant contacts.
Teaching
Essential
- Evidence of formal and informal contributions to teaching and training.
Clinical Governance and audit
Essential
- Evidence of participation in quality improvement activity.
Desirable
- Experience of using mortality reviews or clinical incident investigations to share learning and improve delivery of care.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
Organisational and Management
Essential
- Track-record of good IT skills, the ability to use digital information systems.
- Track-record of good analytical skills to assimilate information from multiple sources in a timely manner
- Good time management skills, ability to multitask and to prioritise tasks in limited time.
Person Specification
Professional Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC registration with a licence to practice in the UK with at least 5 years' of GMC registered experience (whole time equivalent)
Desirable
- Inclusion on the Specialist or General Practice register.
- Membership of relevant Colleges
Professional Training
Essential
- Royal college or other post-graduate qualification
Desirable
- Completion of E-learning for Healthcare Medical Examiner modules.
Clincial Experience
Essential
- 5 years whole time equivalent of working in clinical practice in the UK post GMC registration
Communication skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate clearly and empathically with bereaved families in a way they will understand.
- Ability to communicate clearly (spoken and electronic) with colleagues, attending doctors and other relevant contacts.
Teaching
Essential
- Evidence of formal and informal contributions to teaching and training.
Clinical Governance and audit
Essential
- Evidence of participation in quality improvement activity.
Desirable
- Experience of using mortality reviews or clinical incident investigations to share learning and improve delivery of care.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
Organisational and Management
Essential
- Track-record of good IT skills, the ability to use digital information systems.
- Track-record of good analytical skills to assimilate information from multiple sources in a timely manner
- Good time management skills, ability to multitask and to prioritise tasks in limited time.
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).
