Introduction of medical examiners and reforms to death certification

From the 9th of September the legislation around death documentation is changing. This means that a GP no longer has to see a patient within 28 days to be able to complete their death certificate. The rule is now that the GP just has to see them once in their lifetime in person or by video and know about the patient's case. 

The death certification system in England and Wales is overdue for reform - it has remained largely unchanged for over 50 years. Introducing a robust system in England and Wales whereby all deaths would be subject to either a medical examiner’s scrutiny or a coroner’s investigation has been an ambition of successive governments and ministers.

Click here for more information and an overview of the death certification reforms.