What do we know of the new Death certification reforms? Government is proposing a new Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) which should simplify and speed up the process for the bereaved and allow family and friends to make funeral plans quicker.
In the past, any medical professional attending to certificate a death or give a cause of death, had to have treated the patient in the 28 days leading to death. Now, this will be replaced by a relevant qualified medical practitioner, who has seen the patient at any point in their lifetime.
Government spokeswoman Baroness Merron, stated:
‘The changes will put the bereaved at the centre by providing an opportunity for them to raise questions or concerns with a senior doctor not involved in the care of the deceased. This will improve practice and communication, support the right deaths being referred to coroners for further investigation and help deter poor practice and criminal activity.’
In terms of how this will affect Councils, we believe that the efficiencies in the new system will have a positive benefit, as Coroners will no longer need to interact with Registrars, removing one level of bureaucracy. The medical practitioner will be able to decide which deaths needs to be referred to the coroner.
Mark Byrne, CEO of Grafton Genealogy stated:
‘Anything which can help families at this difficult time is a positive step. It’s also a welcome simplifying of the process which should help all Local Authorities in their work.’
If you are a council officer responsible for coroners, registrars or organising welfare funerals, get in touch with Grafton today for a no obligation conversation around how we can support your work in these areas, tracing next of kin or missing beneficiaries.
