Dr Suzy Lishman, Senior Medical Advisor on Medical Examiners for the Royal College of Pathologists, said;
`As the lead college for medical examiners, the Royal College of Pathologists welcomes the publication of the draft regulations on the long-awaited death certification reforms. Medical examiners are already scrutinising the majority of deaths in England and Wales, identifying concerns and helping improve care for patients and support for bereaved people. The move to a statutory system in 2024 will further strengthen those safeguards, ensuring that all deaths are reviewed and the voices of all bereaved people are heard.'
The College welcomes the publication of the government press release and details of the upcoming reforms to death certification, which are expected to be introduced from April 2024. The publication of the draft regulations is an important step towards full statutory implementation of the reforms, which will affect everyone involved in the certification, review and registration of deaths.
As the lead medical royal college for medical examiners, the Royal College of Pathologists welcomes the move of medical examiners to a statutory footing, with all deaths in England and Wales being either scrutinised by a medical examiner or investigated by a coroner. Mandating the scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths by medical examiners will build on the successes of the non-statutory system, in which over 600,000 deaths have been scrutinised since 2019.
This world-leading patient safety initiative has already helped improve support for bereaved people, patient care and the accuracy of death certification. The College has trained over 2,700 medical examiners and medical examiner officers to deliver the service.
To support understanding of the changes and how they will affect anyone who works in or with medical examiners services, the College is hosting an online information-sharing event on 17 January 2024. Guidance and training will also be updated in line with the statutory changes from April 2024.
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