Medical Examiners
Contact number: 01772 528184
The National Medical Examiner system
What is the Medical Examiner service?
The Medical Examiner service has been developed following a number of recommendations from key inquiries to provide greater scrutiny of all non-Coronial deaths in England and Wales.
The purpose of the medical examiner system is designed to:
- Provide bereaved families with greater transparency and opportunities to raise concerns
- Improve the quality/accuracy of medical certification of cause of death (Death Certificate)
- Ensure referrals to coroners are appropriate
- Provide the public with greater safeguards through improved and consistent scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths, and support healthcare providers to improve care through better learning
What do Independent medical Examiners and medical Examiners officers do?
Medical examiners are senior medical doctors, who are trained in the legal and clinical elements of death certification processes. Their role includes:
- Speaking to the doctor who treated the patient on their final illness
- Reviewing the medical records and any supporting diagnostic information
- Agreeing the proposed cause of death and the overall accuracy of the medical certificate cause of death
- Discussing the cause of death with the next of kin/informant and establishing if they have any concerns with care that could have impacted/led to death
- Acting as a medical advice resource for the local coroner
- Informing clinical governance systems to highlight deceased patients who require a mortality case record review so any formal learning can be gained by the provider organisation
- Ensuring that patterns and concerns about care are raised appropriately
- Enabling a medical examiner officer to conduct component parts of the role under delegated authority
What is a Medical Examiner Officer?
Medical Examiner Officers are from a wide range of professional backgrounds trained in the legal and clinical aspects of the death certification process. They manage cases from initial notification through to completion and are essential for the effective and efficient working of the service. The Medical Examiner Officers will obtain all relevant information and carry out a preliminary review to develop a case file that sets out the circumstances of each death for formal scrutiny by the Medical Examiner.
What does this mean for you?
- Your GP practice / Hospital Bereavement team will complete a referral to the medical Examiner office following the death of your loved one.
- You will be contacted by the Medical Examiner team shortly after the death – Please note: if you have not heard from the medical examiner office it maybe that the referral has not been actioned by the GP/ Hospital bereavement team.
- You will be given the opportunity to discuss the cause of death, and care provided during the illness to the independent medical examiner officer.
- The medical examiners officer will explain the process of obtaining the medical certificate cause of death (Death certificate) and support you through the registration process. Please note- We will refer the death certificate ( MCCD) directly to the registrar office so there is no need to collect the MCCD from your GP or hospital bereavement centre
Who are we?
Regional lead medical Examiner
Dr Huw Twamley
Lead Medical Examiner
Dr Catherine Roberts
Senior Lead Medical Examiner Officer
Amy Ashworth
Lead Medical Examiners Officers
Justine Jackson
Medical Examiner Officers
Daniel Hunter
Morgan Wolstenholme
Faye Stones
Michelle Needham
Useful Information
Medical examiner officers: 01772 528184
Medical examiners: 01772523633
Email: Medical.Examiner@lthtr.nhs.uk
The medical Examiners service is located within the Bereavement centre at Royal Preston Hospital (block F), the centre is open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm.
Out of Hours - Contact Via Switch between the Hours of 9-12pm Sat/Sun & Bank Holidays.
Area’s covered by our Service – Preston District and Chorley & South Ribble District.
Useful Contact Details
Lancashire Teaching Bereavement centre – 01772 522258
Lancashire Teaching Mortuary – 01772 523562
Lancashire Registrars – 0300 123 6705
Lancashire Coroner’s Office – 01772 536536
