Introduction - ME & HMC services & community deaths

With the implementation of the medical examiner system into the community setting it will be vital that processes within both medical examiner offices and coroner offices align, complement and support each other. The introduction of the medical examiner system into the existing and developing process should create a simple but robust system for those deaths that require both medical examiner and coronial considerations, and that prevents duplication, avoids unnecessary delays or repetition of tasks, but ensures that the bereaved receive the same standard of care and the opportunity to raise questions, seek answers and clarificaion, and be given a platform on which they may safely raise concerns with healthcare or events leading to death.

This series of podcasts considers both the existing role of the coroner's officer, along with the emerging role of the medical examiner officers, the requirements and statutory elements of both roles and systems and considers options to collaboratively work together to deliver an efficient and safe service for the bereaved.

It is important to remember, that there will be local variation, and these podcasts do not aim to be prescriptive, but to identify the key parts of the death certification process that coroner officers and medical examiner officers can then work together on to develop local pathways and procedures that allow both independent offices to discharge their statutory function whilst keeping the bereaved at the centre of the process.