Applicant working in both acute Trusts as well as non-acute sector doctors /GPs would be welcomed to apply for this role. MEs are appropriately trained doctors who will verify clinical information on Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs) and ensure that the right referrals are made to the Coroner for further investigation. A practising medical practitioner who has been on the General Medical Council register for a minimum of five years post registration can apply to be an ME. MEs will adopt a consistent approach to the formulation of MCCD content agreed with the attending practitioner, which must be clinically accurate and reflect any discussions with the next of kin/informant.
Key Responsibilities MEs will: ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current and proposed reformed processes of certification, investigation by coroners and registration of deaths. scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol. discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner. It is anticipated that such discussions will be predominately conducted through telephone conversations where barriers to understanding information may exist.
ensure that all users of the ME system are treated with respect and are not discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability. maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised. support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs. work with medical examiner officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate.
engage with the Lead ME and Lead MEO for the Trust. adopt a collaborative working relationship with other MEs by sharing experiences and expertise to support peer learning and set uniform standards of service delivery. be required to participate in any relevant governance activities relating to scrutiny and confirmation of the cause of death where concerns have been raised by the next of kin/informant of the deceased and/or clinical staff and ME scrutiny. facilitate routine analysis of MCCD information to identify trends, patterns and unusual features of deaths and report, as required, firstly to the regional Lead ME and ultimately to the National Medical Examiners office.
provide information to local Child Death Overview panels in respect of all child deaths which are not being investigated by the coroner. Accountability MEs will: have professional independence in scrutinising deaths, but will be accountable to the employing organisations Board for achieving agreed standards or levels of performance. Have an independent professional line of accountability to the Lead Medical Examiner for the organisation and also to a regional structure of NHS England outside the employing organisation and immediate line management structure. comply with guidance issued by the National Medical Examiner when carrying out ME duties.
Communications and working relationships MEs will be a source of expert knowledge and advice for health professionals and wider stakeholder groups; these include: Internally: Medical Director All grades of clinicians Clinical governance leads MEOs and bereavement service staff Mortuary staff. Externally: Coroners and their officers Registrar of births and deaths Local Authorities, including care homes and safeguarding teams Spiritual and faith community leaders Other health care providers to including GPs Lead MEs and lead MEOs National Medical Examiner. The post is based at Pinderfields Hospital, but duties will involve scrutiny of deaths across all sites within the Trust and/or within the North Kirklees and Wakefield Communities and local Hospices, Mental Health Trusts and Private hospitals . Terms & Conditions and Tenure The post will be appointed for a period of three years in the first instance.
Subject to mutual agreement, this contract may be extended. The PA allowance will be 1 session to be delivered on a Friday (am or pm to be decided) to replace the current retiring Medical Examiner. The successful post holder will be expected to hold a job plan of not more than 12 PAs if a Hospital doctor or equivalent for GPs unless explicitly agreed with the Medical Director. We have an established out of hours service at weekends and on Bank Holidays to facilitate the request for early release deaths and successful applicants will be expected to participate in this rota on a 1:14 basis which carries an allowance of 0.19 PAs and a 3 % Cat A on-call allowance.
For Hospital Doctors the post is based on the basis of the prevailing national TCS and pay scales for either Consultants or Specialist doctors depending upon whether the successful candidate possesses either CCT or CESR. GPs will be engaged as Specialist doctors for this element of their work week on prevailing national TCS and pay scales. These may be obtained from the NHS Employers website or provided upon request.
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