"Today the Secretary of State outlined his ambition to transform our NHS into the safest healthcare system in the world, rightly citing the shocking events at Mid Staffs as a major catalyst behind this important reform.
One of the recommendations of the Mid Staffordshire Inquiry was the introduction of a national system of medical examiners. Medical examiners will be vital to improving our understanding of why individuals die, identifying problems earlier and acting quickly to minimise future avoidable deaths. In particular, medical examiners will work closely with families, answering questions and investigating concerns.
"The government made a commitment to the introduction of medical examiners in 2018 but this has been delayed. We urge the Secretary of State to prioritise their introduction as part of his wider patient safety programme."
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