Medical Examiner

Job description

Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.

Job overview

"The next of kin are at the heart of everything we do"

We are seeking to appoint a proactive and self-motivated doctor to join our team of medical examiners at North & Mid Hampshire Medical Examiner Service.

Since 9 September 2024 when the service became statutory, all acute, non-acute and community deaths that do not require a coroner's referral must be scrutinised by a medical examiner before the death can be registered.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will

• provide independent scrutiny of non-coronial deaths
• ensure the appropriate referral of deaths to the coroner
• contribute towards a better service for the bereaved, including an opportunity for them to raise any concerns
• improve the quality of death certification
• support local learning and improvement by identifying matters that require escalation to local clinical governance and other processes
• improve the quality of mortality data

The ME service interacts with many clinical specialities from both the acute and non-acute setting, strengthening links between the health services, coroners' offices and register offices.

Medical Examiners are senior doctors from a diverse variety of clinical specialties in secondary and primary care. Relevant governance experience would be a strong bonus. This could be mortality or other case record reviews in secondary care; or actively considering similar issues in the context of team meetings in primary care. You will work closely with our team of Medical Examiner Officers, who are vital to the efficient running of the service.

Working for our organisation

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the major provider of hospital services to the population of North and Mid Hampshire and surrounding areas. The hospitals in Basingstoke and Winchester provide a comprehensive range of acute services as well as being a tertiary referral centre for colorectal, liver, peritoneal carcinomatosis, haemophilia and pseudomyxoma surgery.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Medical Examiner (ME) must be a medical practitioner registered with a licence to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least five-years of experience. The post-holder must have been registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.

The main responsibilities are to:

• ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current processes of certification, investigation (by coroners) and registration of deaths
• support hospital doctors and primary care doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death
• scrutinise the certified causes of all in-scope deaths
• maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis for clinical governance purposes
• explain to bereaved relatives cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner
• support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs
• engage with relevant governance activities relating to death certification
• support the Medical Examiner Officers in carrying out their role and with their continuing professional development
• Attend catch-up meetings for all MEs and MEOs which are currently 6 per year (4 x remote, 2 x face to face on either RHCH or BNHH site, and 1 'Away Day' (in-house training off site face to face).

For further details / informal visits or to arrange a conversation with our Lead MEO, Lisa Birkett 01256 313236

Person specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Medical Practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC for five continuous years at point of taking up the post; and familiarised themselves with the mandatory e-learning modules as successful candidates will have to complete all the modules before the start of the role

Experience and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Experience of caring for and/or reviewing a broad cross-section of patients
• Up to date knowledge of medical conditions, treatments and medicines which may or may not have contributed to death
• Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems and an understanding of how the ME can work collaboratively to improve patient safety by identifying sub optimal clinical and organisational performance
• Ability to exercise judgement to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required

Desirable criteria

• Be familiar with the role and function of the Coroner and be able to present complex medical information in such a way as to assist the Coroner to decide whether to investigate a death about which they have been notified
• Hospital doctors - experience of mortality review and related departmental divisional or Trust governance processess. General practitioners - experience of case review and response to significant events in the context of team meetings
• Up to date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification
• Knowledge of special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity

Skills and Ability

Essential criteria

• Ability to assimilate information quickly and to write clearly and succinctly
• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism
• Commitment to lifelong learning and undertaking personal development opportunities
• Evidence of teamwork and in particular supporting team learning and quality initiative
• Ability to give and respond to constructive feedback

Using AI in Your Application

We support the use of technology to help manage time and improve efficiency, but it is your responsibility to ensure your application is personalised and accurately reflects your own skills, experience and values.

AI tools can be useful when drafting an application, but they should only be used to assist you. The content submitted must be your own work and an authentic representation of your knowledge, abilities and experiences.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may be rejected. For example, we may receive multiple applications containing identical or generic wording that does not reflect the individual applicant.

The use of AI during assessments, including interviews, is not permitted unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. For virtual interviews, you may be asked to provide a 360-degree view of the room and confirm that no additional devices are being used. If AI use is suspected during an interview, we may pause the interview, ask questions regarding its use, or adapt our assessment approach.

Working in healthcare requires integrity, honesty and accountability. We expect all applications and assessments to be a genuine reflection of your own experience, knowledge and values.
Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in both the delivery of our services and the recruitment and management of our staff.

We welcome applications from everyone who has the skills, experience and values required for the role, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity.
Happy to Talk Flexible Working

We are committed to supporting flexible ways of working and will consider all requests for flexible and part-time working wherever service needs allow.
Important Information About Your Application
Recruitment Process

Applications are submitted through our recruitment system, Trac. Following submission, all correspondence relating to your application will be sent from apps.trac.jobs. Please regularly check your inbox, including your junk or spam folders.

Shortlisted candidates will normally be contacted at least five working days before their interview date.
Vacancy Closing Dates

This vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if sufficient applications are received. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.
English Language Requirement

In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, all applicants must be able to communicate effectively in spoken and written English. This will be assessed during the recruitment process.
Pre-Employment Checks and Probation
Keeping Patients Safe

At Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, patient safety is our highest priority. We recommend that staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and understand that we continue to care for patients who are COVID-19 positive within our services.
Probationary Period

All new employees will be required to complete a six-month probationary period as part of their employment with the Trust.

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