Medical examiner officers – Further training and induction

Training for MEOs is vital, as users of the medical examiner service must have confidence that those providing this service have been appropriately trained, and that they keep their skills and knowledge up to date and relevant to the work they are undertaking. 

In addition to the e-learning sessions and the face-to-face training event we have created a training record, in which the required skills can be documented and assessed. An individual's training record should be used to create a continuous record of training and development, and to identify areas in which additional CPD would be beneficial to the undertaking of delegated tasks. 

The training record can also be used to form the basis for those MEOs from a clinical background who require re-registration with the HCPC or the NMC.

It is vital that this is not the end of the MEOs' training – ultimately, the training of MEOs will come through case discussions with the medical examiners, coroners, clinical teams, pathologists and many others involved in the process of death certification. The more training and education that is undertaken by MEOs, the more effective the service will become.

Training record and supporting documents

Further external learning

There are many resources available to assist MEOs and provide information and ideas for good practice and CPD.  Below are a few examples that may be helpful to you as you start to develop the MEO role, but they are by no means a definitive list.  As you become more experienced in the role, you will be able to identify areas of learning that are unique to you and structure your own CPD and personal learning objectives.

The eLearning for healthcare site also has other courses that may be valuable for MEOs, you can enrol on any course, but the following list may be used as a good base to start:

  • DOLS: Deprivation of liberty
  • e-ELCA: End of life care
  • CCC: Cancer in the community
  • CWE: Communicating with empathy
  • COM: Compassion in practice
  • MLT: Medico legal training
  • PFH: Preventing falls in hospital
  • RTR: Pressure ulcer prevention
  • SEP: Sepsis
  • TIA: Transient ischaemic attack
  • VTE: Venous thromboembolism

External training and conferences

Higher education courses

There are also a variety of post graduate distance based learning courses available – two examples are listed below (not specifically endorsed by the College.)