Guidance – Death Certification

The Death Certification Reforms became statutory on 09/09/24. The changes are described in these documents:

Overview of process for death certification (NHS England)

Death certification reforms – changes from 09 September 2024 (Royal College of Pathologists)

Verification of Death (Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership)

Death Certification – Further Guidance for GP Practices (Humberside LMCs updated guidance following the introduction of the changes)

From 09/09/2024 the new MCCD must be completed (regardless of when the patient died) with no requirement for a Cremation form. If the old forms are used and signed 09/09/2024 the death will not be registered as the law changes from midnight on that date.

From 09/09/2024 deaths not investigated by the Coroner must be reviewed by a Medical Examiner and the MCCD signed by the Medical Examiner before they forward to the registrar. From 09/09/2024 it is the GPs statutory responsibility to refer all non-coronial deaths to the Medical Examiner and make all patient records available to them.

All unknown or unnatural deaths must still be referred to the Coroner.

The Coroner’s Office for East Riding and Hull has published a one page summary of guidance for doctors on completing the Medical Cause of Death Certificate (MCCD). This guidance applies to the North Bank.

There is also guidance from HUTH on death certificate reforms and the Medical Examiner system from 09/09/2024 – download here.