We are looking for motivated and inquisitive doctors to join our experienced, established team of Medical Examiners (ME).
The ME service provides independent scrutiny of all non-Coronial deaths within primary and secondary care. The MEs proportionate review of medical history combined with giving the bereaved relatives an opportunity to raise and discuss any queries provides a transparent and accurate process for death certification and allows detection of Clinical and quality governance issues.
You will need to discuss the cause of death with the bereaved person/nominated representative and with the qualified attending practitioner to ensure that you are satisfied the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) is accurate. You will refer to the Coroner if an MCCD can not be written and further investigation is needed based on legal requirements. You will highlight patients that need to be referred for a structured judgement review.
The successful candidates will be 5 years post registration with the GMC and licensed to practice in the UK with a minimum of five years post qualification experience.
Applications are encouraged from a diverse range of clinical specialities, hospital and general practice. You will work up to 1.25 PAs per week which may include an expectation of additional working at weekends and bank holidays on an on call basis (still in discussion).
Medical Examiners (ME) are appropriately trained doctors who will have a minimum of five years’ experience as a fully registered medical practitioner. MEs will be currently practising or have retired in the last five years, and will hold a license to practice with the GMC or the equivalent medical registration from an overseas body.
MEs will verify clinical information on Medical Certificates of Cause of death (MCCDs), and ensure appropriate referrals are made to the Coroner for further investigation.
MEs will provide a transparent and independent scrutiny of the death certification process. MEs will take a consistent approach to the formulation of MCCD content, which must be clinically accurate, and reflect any discussions with the nominated representative/informant. MEs must not have been involved in the care of the deceased patients they scrutinise.
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital trust in the south-east of England.
We provide a full range of general hospital services and some aspects of specialist and complex care to around 600,000 people living in West Kent and East Sussex. We have a team of over 8,000 full and part-time staff. We also provide specialist cancer services to around 2 million people across Kent and East Sussex via the Kent Oncology Centre.Fordcombe Hospital is near Tunbridge Wells and became part of the Trust in October 2024. It focusses on planned care and has two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day care beds, diagnostic services including X-ray, MRI, CT and endoscopy, and a number of consultation and treatment rooms.
In the 2023 NHS staff survey, our employees ranked MTW among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and the second-best Trust to work for in the South East.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Accountability-
· Professional independence in scrutinising deaths but will be accountable to the employing organisations Board for achieving agreed standards or levels of performance.
· There is an independent professional line of accountability to a regional structure of NHS Improvement / NHS England outside the employing organisation and immediate line management.
· Compliance with guidance issued by the National Medical Examiner when carrying out Medical Examiner Duties
· If in a substantive post, have an agreed job plan to include ME position
Communication and relationship –
· Ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current statutory processes of certification, investigation and registration of all deaths referred from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and all healthcare providers covered by West Kent ME Service.
· Support doctors with medical advice on suspected natural causes of death before they prepare an MCCD, and provide general medical advice to HM Coroner
· Proportionate Scrutiny of records and collateral information to identify/approve the proposed causes of death, referring to HM Coroner when necessary
· Communicate with nominated representatives, bereaved relatives and others in a sensitive and understanding manner. To explain medical information and the cause of death in a transparent and tactful way, and identify any concerns raised, referring to the relevant governance structures where applicable.
· To delegate duties to the MEOs ensuring there is robust traceability for any instruction given
· Maintain comprehensive records for all deaths scrutinised, ensure full traceability is available for conversations held on the ME1B forms and EDEN systems
· To present complex medical information, in sufficient detail, to HM Coroner to enable a further decision regarding coronial investigation or MCCD completion
· Highlight any potential conflicts of interest and ensure to uphold the Trusts commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
· Exercise judgement in where to seek specialist advice in order to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required
Planning and organisational
· Work with other MEs and the senior MEO to arrange reciprocal cover for holidays and other periods of absence. This will include cover if a conflict of interest is raised by a colleague. Inform Lead MEO of all planned unavailability three months in advance whenever possible
· Ensure each cause of death is scrutinised in a way that is robust, proportionate and consistent
· Ability to distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and decide where a death must be reported to and investigated by HM Coroner
· Have detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to:
Coroners and death certification
Deaths abroad where deceased are returned to England and Wales for funeral arrangements
Deaths where the deceased is to be transferred abroad for funeral arrangements
Certifying and registering deaths and the regulations to authorise cremation or burials including stillbirths
· Engage with mandatory and national training updates and participate in annual appraisal, maintaining a personal Development Plan
· Take responsibility for own continuing professional development, participating in medical education activities. Maintain GMC license to practice and member ship to any relevant professional body
Responsibility for policy/service development –
· Production and/or review of mortality and ME policy and procedures
· Compliance with national protocols, local policies and SOPs, attendance and participation at ME service governance meetings
· Participating in audits and investigations where appropriate and responding to complaints within the PCTs expected timescale
· Provide feedback/learning to the Mortality surveillance group
· Identity trends, patterns and unusual features of deaths and report as required
· Share relevant information with responsible officers for doctors to remedy sub-standard clinical performance to protect patients
· Participate in Divisional/Directorate clinical governance sessions/boards and the mortality surveillance group
Management responsibility –
· To provide scrutiny during agreed sessions and to support the service when needed to accommodate emergency referrals and periods of staff unavailability.
· To ensure all scrutiny is recorded providing completed notes which may be used as part of any further investigations, structured judgement reviews etc.
· To delegate duties to the MEOs ensuring these are completed and report any concerns to the Senior MEO
· To assist clinicians with writing the cause of death
· To complete the MCCD when requested by HM Coroner
· To escalate any concerns to the Lead ME
This advert closes on Thursday 9 Jan 2025