Death Certification (MCCD) process
- Overview of SMES for Care Providers
- ME letter for relatives
- Somerset Medical Examiner Service poster
- Workflow for GP referrals SMES
The above now delayed until 2024 please see current process below
Death Certification (MCCD) process from 25th March 2022 following expiry of the Coronavirus Act temporary provisions
Link to download flowchart process
Changes to Death Reporting Requirements
Following the expiry of the Coronavirus Act last month the Acting Senior Coroner for Somerset has issued new guidance on the death certification procedure in the County that will take effect from 2nd May 2022.
The key points are:
- Deaths MUST be reported electronically on the new Electronic Death Referral Form that is available on etemplates , select your practice and enter the word "death" in the search box and the form will be available to download into EMIS. Only the latest version ( with the name of Samanatha Marsh (Acting Senior Coroner for Somerset) under the Logo ) can be used.
- The extension of the requirement to have seen the deceased within the last 14 days to 28 days is now permanent.
- Cremation Form 5 is not being re-introduced.
The list of reasons for referring a death to the Coroner rather than issuing an MCCD is the same as in the existing Notification of Death Regulations 2019. Do remember that if the death is associated with trauma, accident or injury – however long ago – it must be reported. Falls are included in this category. When the Medical Examiner service is fully up and running it will be possible to discuss some questions with them.
It is essential that the wording you use on the forms is accurate, consistent between documents, and contains no abbreviations. If you offer “Old age” or “frailty of old age” on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and you are referring to the coroner for any reason, the coroner may need supporting data such as a frailty index score, or circumstantial information including whether the deceased was bed bound or taking food and drink.
Although the time limit since last seeing the patient for issuing an MCCD is now 28 days, “seeing” means a formal face to face or video consultation. Saying hello in passing or giving a Covid, flu, or similar immunisation do not count.
We are grateful to Wessex LMCs for the original of the Flow Chart above
Further information from the Coroners office
- Notes For Doctors
- Protocol for Doctors Referrals Referrals
- Coronavirus Death Certification
- Registered Practitioners Notification of Death Regulations
