National Death Certification System

Effective From September 2024

A new statutory medical examiner system has been introduced across England and Wales to provide independent scrutiny of deaths, give bereaved families a voice, and improve the experience of registering a death.

Starting on Monday 9th September 2024 all deaths in England and Wales will now be reviewed by either a coroner or an NHS medical examiner.

Under this new system, GPs in England and Wales who are notified of a patient's death must collaborate with medical examiners, enabling them to independently scrutinise deaths that are not referred to a coroner.

The medical examiner office will serve as the main point of contact for bereaved families, addressing any questions they have and offering a space to raise concerns with an independent senior doctor trained in both the legal and clinical aspects of the death certification process. A death cannot be registered until it has been scruitinised by the appropriate team.

Individuals who pass in hospital or a hospice will be referred directly and not through the GP.

The medical examiner's office can be reached at 01737 768 511, extension 2946. Please note that this service operates Monday to Friday and may experience high call volumes. Individuals are urged to not make any arrangements prior to contact from the medical examiner.

Bereaved families will not need to collect any paperwork from the GP practice.

For more information please click on the below links:

NHS England - The National Medical Examiner System

Surrey County Council - Registering A Death

GOV.UK - Death and Bereavement

GOV.UK Death Certification Reform 2022

GOV.UK Bereavement Help & Support

Published on 10 February 2025