Medical Examiner

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Colney; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Medical Examiner Service at a leading hospital is seeking Medical Examiners to join their team. This role involves scrutinizing case notes, collaborating with clinical teams, and supporting the training of doctors in death certification. The service has been operational since 2019 and is expanding to include community deaths. Candidates will work on a fixed roster and are encouraged to specify their preferred number of Programmed Activity sessions.

Qualifications

• Senior medical personnel including Consultants and GPs.
• Trained in clinical and legal aspects of death certification.

Responsibilities

• Scrutinize case notes of deceased patients not investigated by HM Coroner.
• Collaborate with clinical teams to determine cause of death.
• Support training of resident doctors in completing MCCDs.

Skills

Clinical Knowledge

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Medical Degree

Job description

The Medical Examiner Service at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust (NNUH) is seeking to recruit Medical Examiners. This exciting opportunity is open to senior medical personnel, including Consultants and GPs.

Medical Examiners are senior clinicians trained in the clinical and legal aspects of death certification.

Four Programmed Activity (PA) sessions, each lasting four hours, are available and may be allocated among suitable candidates to support service delivery. Applicants are encouraged to specify the number of PAs they wish to apply for, which will be discussed during the interview. The successful candidate(s) will work on a fixed roster at the Medical Examiner Service offices at NNUH, Colney Lane. Each ME is expected to work 42 sessions per year, with flexibility during high-demand periods such as holidays.

Key Responsibilities

1. Scrutinize case notes of all deceased patients not investigated by HM Coroner, including deaths in primary and secondary care settings.
2. Collaborate with clinical teams to determine the cause of death for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).
3. Discuss the cause of death with next-of-kin in a transparent, sympathetic manner, escalating concerns as necessary.
4. Work with Medical Examiner Officers (MEOs) to highlight clinical care concerns, contributing to governance and Learning from Deaths processes.
5. Make appropriate referrals to HM Coroner and serve as a medical resource for the Coroner when needed.
6. Support training of resident doctors in completing MCCDs and provide feedback on certification accuracy.

The Medical Examiner Service has been operational at NNUH since 2019, reviewing all inpatient deaths. Since September 2024, it has become statutory and expanded to include community deaths. The NNUH Medical Examiner Office reviews approximately 6,500 deaths annually, making it the largest in the region.

The service is based at the main NNUH site and maintains close working relationships with stakeholders such as the Bereavement and Mortuary teams, HM Coroner's Office, Registration Services, and local Funeral Directors. The team includes 6 full-time Medical Examiner Officers and 11 part-time Medical Examiners.

For further details or informal visits, contact:

• Name: Jason Payne-James
• Job Title: Lead Medical Examiner
• Email: [e-mail]
• Telephone: [phone] (ext. 2205)