Improving The Process Of Death Certification
Date: 09 Sep 2011
The Health and Social Care Bill includes an important amendment to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 transferring responsibility for the appointment of medical examiners and related activities from Primary Care Trusts to Local Authorities.
The Listening Exercise has therefore resulted in a change to the timetable for the death certification reforms. The relevant regulations are now expected to be published for consultation in October and, subject to the Bill’s Parliamentary passage, will be laid in Parliament in May/June 2012 with a commencement date of April 2013. The extended period between introduction and commencement is intended to provide time for local authorities to establish a local medical examiner’s service for their area.
Click on the hightlighted links to read the full letter from the DoH and their information sheet about the death certification duties of local authorities.
