Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Local Medical Committee Ltd.

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LIVE FROM 9TH SEPTEMBER: DEATH PROCESSES AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SERVICE

PRACTICES WILL NEED TO CONTINUE USING THE MCCD SERVICE UNTIL 9TH SEPTEMBER AND REVERT TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SERVER AFTER THIS DATE

FULL VERSION OF GUIDANCE IS ATTACHED - AN QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT ENQUIRIES@LLRLMC.CO.UK 

SUMMARY

1. The processes to be followed after death change significantly from 9 September 2024. This short guide for GPs has been written with the kind input from the Senior Coroners, Senior Medical Examiner, Senior Registrar, and a Funeral Director.

2.1 The main changes that will affect GPs are:

• Have ‘attended’ the deceased before death.
• Know ‘to the best of your knowledge and belief’ the cause of death.
• Know that there is no requirement to report the death to the coroner (Annex C).
• Consider consulting the Medical Examiners’ Office if you are unsure about any of the above (Contact: 0116 258 3102/250 2946, 07814 028098 or 07815 457565).

1. 1. To complete an APMCCD (which replaces the old MCCD) you will need to:

2.2 There is no longer any requirement for the certifying GP to have seen the deceased:

• within 28 days prior to death, or
• after death, or
• face to face/in person at any time prior to death (See FAQs).

2.3. Once completed the GP MUST send the APMCCD to the Medical Examiner service, together with a brief summary of the events leading to the death and any other relevant information (in preference using the PRISM form, although the ME service will also accept a completed Arden’s ME report template).

3. After 9 September 2024, all deaths must be certified using the new APMCCD even if the death occurred before that date.

4. Please find attached the guidance in full and the following Annexes:

• Annex A Flow chart of death process for GPs.
• Annex B Frequently Asked Questions.
• Annex C Notifiable Causes of Death.
• Annex D Attending Practitioner Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (APMCCD).
• Annex E Boundary Map for the two LLR Coronial areas.
• Annex F Contact Details Adjacent Medical Examiner Services

5. Where this guide refers to GP, it also means GP Registrars (and any other fully registered doctor working in general practice).

6. This guidance is accurate at the time of writing.

Correspondence from LLR Senior Coroners on the GP impact on ME service

• Copy of letter from Miss Pinder, HM Senior Coroner Rutland and North Leicestershire

• Copy of letter from Prof Mason, HM Senior Coroner Leicester City and South Leicestershire