New process September 2024

When a patient dies a death certificate will be provided to the next of kin or the executors of the patient’s will.

The process for this changed in September 2024 when a new system was set in place whereby all deaths are reviewed by a Medical Examiner (ME) who is also a Doctor, to see if they agree with the cause of death. A GP at the practice who has previously seen the patient, proposes a cause of death based on their knowledge of the patient and medical record.

This is then proposed to the ME, who reviews the patient’s medical notes and may speak to the next of kin. Once the cause of death has been agreed, both the GP and ME will sign the preliminary Death Certificate and the ME Office will then inform the next of kin that they can contact the Registry Office to make and appointment to collect the formal death certificate.

Please do not contact the registry office until you have been advised to do so by the medical examiners office.

Please note this applies to patients that dies at home or in a local nursing home, patients that dies in hospital are looked after by the hospital team/ME. If a patient dies unexpectedly at home, then the GP is unlikely to be able to give a cause of death, and the Coroner takes over the certification process.