Death Certificate Registration Process
Death Certificate Registration Process
Danielle Ryder, Trainee Solicitor & Leila Murray Solicitor and Head of our Private Client law team at Kerseys Solicitors in Ipswich explain changes to the Death Certificate Registration Process which were implemented on 9 September 2024.
Changes to the Death Certificate Registration Process
After over 50 years, regulations introducing changes to the process of death certification in England and Wales were laid before Parliament on 15 April 2024. These reforms were passed and subsequently implemented on 9 September 2024.
It has been long established that, following a death, the case will either result in a medical certification by a medial practitioner or investigation by a coroner. This remains the same in the new system however, there are a few important differences.
The process prior to 9 September 2024
The first step when a person has passed away is to obtain a Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD) also known as a death certificate. The death of a person is certified by a medical practitioner or by a coroner.
Before a medical practitioner can write the MCCD, they must have attended the person who has passed during their illness and seen them in either the last 28 days or after death. The MCCD is then sent to the registrar by the attending practitioner.
The new process as of 9 September 2024
From 9 September 2024, a new MCCD will replace the existing certificate to reflect the fact that an independent review will now be needed by a medical examiner for all deaths in England and Wales. This will be the case unless the death has already been referred to a coroner.
If an attending medical practitioner is unavailable, the death will be passed to a senior coroner. If the senior coroner chooses not to investigate, they can then pass the matter to a medical examiner to certify the death.
The role of a medical examiner is to provide an independent scrutiny of the cause of death and this will include reviewing patient medical records with the assistance of the GPs and the NHS Trusts. The medical examiner will also give bereaved individuals an opportunity to raise any queries or concerns.
Once all examinations have been completed and the cause of death is confirmed, the MCCD will be sent to the registrar by the medical examiner and not the attending practitioner.
The new MCCD will also include mortality data such as ethnicity of the patient and whether they had any medical devices and implants.
The government believes that the new process will improve the efficiency in the death certification system and as a result reduce unnecessary delays for bereaved families/individuals involved.
The reform also covers the time frame as to when the death needs to be registered. Previously the deadline was 5 days from the date of death. However, from 9 September 2024, the 5-day deadline now runs from the date of when the registrar receives notification of the cause of death from the medical examiner or coroner.
For more detail, please see the link below which will take you to the Government website:
