Medical Examiner

Job Summary

We are looking for a Medical Examiner to join our established Medical Examiner Office.

The post holder will be an appropriately trained, experienced consultant (or equivalent) who will provide support and guidance to medical staff undertaking death certification and be the primary point of contact for bereaved families who have any concerns prior to death. In addition, for all in-hospital deaths they may identify cases which would benefit for further review by the Trust Stage 2 Mortality Review Panel or an escalation to the Medical Director for further scrutiny. The Medical Examiner will also complete Part 2 of the Cremation Form, where applicable, and have professional independence when reviewing deaths.

You must be registered with a license to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least three years experience at consultant (or equivalent) level and must have been registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.

This role will complement the Trusts mortality review process to support the implementation of national guidance on learning from deaths.

Main duties of the job

The Medical Examiner Office currently consists of a x9 Medical Examiners, x1 lead Medical Examiner Officer and x3 Medical Examiner Officers and is responsible for reviewing all deaths in any health setting that are not investigated by a coroner across South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Main Duties Of The Role Include:

Review the case records of patients who have died within the Trust

Support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death when writing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

Provide advice on the appropriate referral of cases to the coroner

Scrutinise the causes of deaths where an MCCD is to be or has been completed

Contact the deceased's next of kin to explain the cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner, which respects different faith, cultural, ethnic and diversity considerations.

Complete Part 2 of the Cremation Form, where applicable

Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths screened and provide input to analysis of mortality data

Be familiar with the role and function of the Coroner and able to present complex medical information in such a way as to assist the Coroner decide whether to investigate a death about which they have been notified.

Please refer to the attached job description for full outline of the role /duties

About Us

Please help us by adding your telephone number to your application form this will allow us to contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,300 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Date posted

25 April 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£105,504 to £139,882 a year Pro rata for part time - 1 PA

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

3 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9155-CRMD-0425-50

Job locations

South Tyneside District Hospital

Harton Lane

South Shields

NE34 0PL

Job Description

Job responsibilities

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) is introducing a Medical Examiner (ME) role in line with national guidance in preparation for this role to become a statutory role. It will complement the STSFT mortality review process to support the implementation of national guidance on learning from deaths.

The STSFT MEs will be appropriately trained, experienced Consultants who will provide support and guidance to medical staff undertaking death certification and be the primary point of contact for bereaved families who have any concerns about care prior to death. Whilst undertaking this role for all in-hospital deaths they may identify cases which would benefit from further review by the Trust Stage 2 Mortality Review Panel or an escalation to the Medical Director for further scrutiny.

STSFT MEs will also complete Part 2 of the Cremation form, where applicable.

Medical Examiners will have professional independence when reviewing deaths.

Medical Examiners must avoid any potential conflicts of interest and must transfer to another ME the responsibility for the review of any death in which they have had a personal, professional or fiduciary relationship with the deceased person, the next-of-kin or near relative of the deceased, or with the attending doctor who prepared the MCCD.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Job Description

Job responsibilities

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) is introducing a Medical Examiner (ME) role in line with national guidance in preparation for this role to become a statutory role. It will complement the STSFT mortality review process to support the implementation of national guidance on learning from deaths.

The STSFT MEs will be appropriately trained, experienced Consultants who will provide support and guidance to medical staff undertaking death certification and be the primary point of contact for bereaved families who have any concerns about care prior to death. Whilst undertaking this role for all in-hospital deaths they may identify cases which would benefit from further review by the Trust Stage 2 Mortality Review Panel or an escalation to the Medical Director for further scrutiny.

STSFT MEs will also complete Part 2 of the Cremation form, where applicable.

Medical Examiners will have professional independence when reviewing deaths.

Medical Examiners must avoid any potential conflicts of interest and must transfer to another ME the responsibility for the review of any death in which they have had a personal, professional or fiduciary relationship with the deceased person, the next-of-kin or near relative of the deceased, or with the attending doctor who prepared the MCCD.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Person Specification

Maintaining trust

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate transparency when explaining cause of death to bereaved families and make it easier to raise concerns.
• Awareness of equality and diversity issues within the community and a demonstrable ability to understand the requirements of diverse faith groups
  
  

Safety and Quality

Essential

• Knowledge of clinical governance systems as they affect the work of professionals and organisations.
• Ability to identify available data sources to support detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
• Ability to act proportionately and report sub-standard clinical and organisational performance to relevant colleagues to protect patients.
• Ability to identify good practice and ensure the spread of knowledge amongst relevant colleagues
• Ability to put in place appropriate reporting, information sharing and feedback mechanisms
  
  

Desirable

• Ability to undertake routine analysis of information on cause of death for local clinical governance and public health surveillance.
  
  

Communication, partnership and teamwork

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively within own team and with people in other disciplines (medical examiners officer, attending practitioner, senior coroner, the police, funeral director, & Registrar)
• Ability to communicate effectively and with sensitivity with the relatives or representatives of the deceased when explaining the cause of death
• Ability to work within own team and closely with people in other disciplines
• Good organisational and leadership skills
• Good management skills - able to demonstrate effective and efficient working practices
  
  

Desirable

• Ability to assist or deliver training to enhance skills within the MEs team and junior doctors in the process of death certification
  
  

Experience

Essential

• Working knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment, preferably in the UK.
• Up to date knowledge of clinical causes of death, together with death certification requirements and processes.
• Ability to demonstrate proportionate and professional judgement to determine the degree to which independent scrutiny is pursued where death certificates have been issued.
• Commitment to maintain knowledge and keep skills up to date
• Ability to manage an information-based process under tight timescales
  
  

Desirable

• Knowledge of legal framework and relevant jurisdiction relating to the process of death certification
• IT competent, for the purposes of efficient scrutiny and routine analysis of information for local clinical governance and public health surveillance.
  
  

Qualifications

Essential

• Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least five years experience. The candidate must have been registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.
• Candidate will have successfully completed the approved components of the national on-line training curriculum as a precondition of employment as a Medical Examiner. Confirmation of appointment is subject to successful completion of face to face component of the national training curriculum. [Note: access to on-line training will be available to all medical practitioners registered & licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC]
  
  

Person Specification

Maintaining trust

Essential

• Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least five years experience. The candidate must have been registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.
• Candidate will have successfully completed the approved components of the national on-line training curriculum as a precondition of employment as a Medical Examiner. Confirmation of appointment is subject to successful completion of face to face component of the national training curriculum. [Note: access to on-line training will be available to all medical practitioners registered & licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC]
  
  

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Tyneside District Hospital

Harton Lane

South Shields

NE34 0PL

Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Tyneside District Hospital

Harton Lane

South Shields

NE34 0PL

Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)