Support to doctors when certifying a death

Please note: the Haringey Register Office, the Haringey Bereavement Service and the Coroner are separate departments. Please direct any enquiry to the correct department.

COVID-19 - Information for doctors

Emergency measures

Please scan or take a clear image of any medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) issued (front and back) and send to deathsupport@haringey.gov.uk.

We do not need to see the smaller tear-off section that is given to the family. We must be able to see the section where you circle 1, 2, 3 or 4 to show if a post mortem is taking place, referral to the Coroner etc.

Please clearly print your name and GMC number on the certificate.

• You now have to see a patient within 28 days of death instead of 14 days (you can see the patient via video link whilst still alive)
• Certify the death if the patient was seen within 28 days of dying by another doctor and you have access to their notes. You must be satisfied that the causes relate to the patients medical history, or
• See the body after death (not by video link)

Guidance

• Coronavirus Act – excess death provisions: information and guidance for medical practitioners (PDF, 127KB)
• Death verification (confirmation of death) of expected deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, 153KB)

Information on completing a MCCD can be found on GOV.UK (external link)

Important - the Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019 came into force on 1 October 2019. The Government has published details about how this affects doctors including the need to refer some deaths to the Coroner at GOV.UK (external link).

Haringey Register Office can only register deaths that have occurred in Haringey (this does not include the North Middlesex Hospital and Whittington Hospital). Registrars can only register a death if a satisfactory Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (MCCD) has been completed, or if the Coroner has issued the necessary paperwork. Please print your name and GMC number on any MCCD that you issue.

To help with completing an MCCD you may wish to refer to this guidance document - MCCD training example form (PDF, 143KB).

Please refer the death to the Coroner if necessary. Referrals should be made by email to admin.beh@hmc-northlondon.co.uk

The Coroner's Service is unable to offer advice on completing a MCCD, including what is appropriate to include on a MCCD, but has produced a document titled Issuing a Medical Cause of Death Certificate - A Quick Guide (PDF, 118KB), which explains the Greater London Northern Districts Coroners process. The Coroner has also produced:

• A Guide to Reporting a Death to the Coroner (PDF 32KB)

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Referring a death to the Coroner

If a coroners referral is required, the Coroner will need:

• A patient summary to the Coroners Service
• A copy of the MCCD (if you are able to complete a MCCD)
• A completed GP Referral Form 1 / Hospital Referral Form 1

If urgent action is required mark the email URGENT and explain why the matter is urgent.

Referrals should be made by email to admin.beh@hmc-northlondon.co.uk

Please advise the next of kin that they will need to wait for the Coroner to contact them (usually within 24 hours) before they can register the death.

Unable to access Form 1?

Access to the Form 1 is from the EMIS system. If you are having issues accessing a Form 1 please contact your Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

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Further support and feedback

If you require further support or would like to provide feedback please send your details, including a contact telephone number to registrars@haringey.gov.uk 

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