Medical Examiner
Job Description
Job summary
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced reforms to the death certification process, including the roll out of a new statutory medical examiner (ME) system across England & Wales. From 9 September 2024 any death not investigated by a coroner must be reviewed by a medical examiner. The aim of this system is to provide independent scrutiny of care provided, improve accuracy of information during the death certification process and most importantly give the bereaved an opportunity to discuss aspects of care and the cause of death.
The Medical Examiner system began by looking at acute deaths within hospital sites but has now extended its service to the scrutiny of deaths within the community, in line with statutory requirements.
Applications are open to doctors from all specialities; adult or paediatric, acute, or primary care. Those successful applicants already in a consultant post would be paid 1 PA at their current salary point, non-consultant MEs (for example GP) would be paid the equivalent 1PA (4 hours per week) at the first point of the consultant salary scale, equivalent experience will also be taken into consideration.
Please note, Medical Examiner PAs should be taken on in addition to the applicants current clinical workload. Existing consultants wishing to substitute Medical Examiner time for clinical time will only be considered if they have the support to do so from their practice or organisation line manager.
Main duties of the job
Medical Examiners are responsible for independent scrutiny of the documentation and circumstances leading to a patients death and advise clinical teams. In addition, the Medical Examiners Service provides bereaved families with an explanation and opportunity to ask questions and discuss the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). Medical Examiners identify and escalate any concerns they may have about an individual case, but also any concerns raised by clinical staff or the bereaved.
The Medical Examiner Service works closely with Learning from Deaths workstreams and other existing Trust clinical governance systems and aims to independently identify themes arising from cases reviewed. Externally they will be in regular contact with coroners office, registrars, and other key stakeholders. Medical Examiners are employed by the acute Trust but have a separate line of accountability to the National Medical Examiner System via the Regional Medical Examiner, who provide support and training to all local offices.
About us
We are committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. We will always be patient-centred, fair, collaborative, accountable and empower our patients and colleagues. The best for patient safety, quality and experience.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to
Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.
Job responsibilities
Medical Examiners are appropriately trained senior doctors who verify clinical information on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), ensure appropriate referrals to the coroner, and improve accuracy and consistency of the MCCD. They are also a source of advice for affiliated professionals and services.
Medical Examiners are responsible for independent scrutiny of the documentation and circumstances leading to a patients death and advise clinical teams. In addition, the Medical Examiners Service provides bereaved families with an explanation and opportunity to ask questions and discuss the MCCD. Medical Examiners identify and escalate any concerns they may have about an individual case, but also any concerns raised by clinical staff or the bereaved. The Medical Examiner Service works closely with Learning from Deaths workstreams and other existing Trust clinical governance systems and aims to independently identify themes arising from cases reviewed. Externally they will be in regular contact with coroners officers, registrars, and other key stakeholders. Medical Examiners are employed by the acute Trust but have a separate line of accountability to the National Medical Examiner Service via the Regional Medical Examiner teams, who provide support and training to all local Medical Examiner teams.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered with a license to practice in the UK by the GMC
- Must have successfully completed the mandatory Medical Examiner core learning modules
Desirable
- Royal College of Pathologists Medical Examiner Face to Face Training
Clinical, Academic, and Personal Skills
Essential
- Ability to identify and disseminate examples of good practice amongst relevant colleagues
- Ability to comply to manage and comply with sensitive information-based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach
- Good IT skills including use of email and commonly used software
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect from equality and diversity
- Proactive and self-motivated with a flexible working approach (inclusive of weekends and Bank Holidays)
Eligibility, Fitness to practice, and Language Skills
Essential
- Have up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and recognise gaps in available knowledge
- Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems and an understanding of how the ME can work collaboratively to improve patient safety
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism
- Have the resilience to manage own reaction to frequently distressing situations and support others within the team
- To sustain professional integrity and independence at all times, particularly where there is potential for a conflict of interest
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Address
St. James's University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF
