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Job summary

Main area
Medical Examiner
Grade
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Contract
Permanent: fixed term
Hours
  • Part time
  • Other
4 hours per week (1 PA to be worked a week (2 PA sessions are available cross site))
Job ref
223-MEM-506
Employer
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital
Town
SHREWSBURY
Salary
£99,532 - £131,964 pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
08/08/2024 23:59

Employer heading

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust logo

Medical Examiner

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant

Job overview

The Medical Examiner Service at SaTH has been established and working successfully since April 2019.  We are expanding our service to support the review of deaths that occur in the community and to prepare for the statutory commencement of the Medical Examiner Service on the 9th September 2024.  We currently have 17 Medical Examiners working on the Rota across both of our hospitals and wish to invite applications from those interested in joining the Rota to expand the service. 

The vacant session is on a Friday at the Princess Royal Hospital, although some flexibility on the day may be possible and can be explored further, but Friday or Wednesday is desirable to support the current rota and service needs. 

Please note: As part of the application process all prospective MEs should evidence their fitness to practice in the ME role. GPs who are on the performers list will have NHS England as their designated body with an NHSE responsible officer who will set the requirements for revalidation. However, if SaTH are to be the sole employer and the GP is not on the performer’s list then SaTH will become their designated body.

Main duties of the job

Our service of Medical Examiner(s) and Medical Examiner Officer(s) combine clinical and administrative skills, compassion and sensitivity and a commitment to engage with bereaved families in order to complete a review of every in-hospital and community death.  Work is progressing with our community partners to develop the service to include review of community deaths before the statutory position, however from the 9th September all deaths, not notifiable to the coroner, will be referred to the Medical Examiner.  

Working for our organisation

We are incredibly proud of the service we have created over the last 5 years and the support we offer to bereaved relatives in the days after their relative has died.  A commitment to supporting the bereaved with questions and concerns they may have is an integral part of our service.  We are really excited by this expansion of the service and we hope to recruit someone who is too, so that together, guided by clinical skill and ability to demonstrate our core values at all times, we can make a real difference to the bereaved and the learning from deaths agenda.  We run the Medical Examiner service from both the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.  A session (1PA) is 4 hours and it is required that you can offer this level of commitment.  A session is encouraged to start from 10am to allow the Medical Examiner Officer time to prepare the cases for Medical Examiner Review. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Medical Examiner (s) will be expected to screen and review deaths to an agreed policy and time frame, liaise with the Coroner to develop a robust process for referrals which minimises delays to bereaved families whilst enabling further investigations as appropriate. The job description and person specification attached are modelled from the Royal College of Pathologists in line with a national requirement to develop a method for reducing inaccuracies in death certificates and achieving greater confidence in learning from deaths.

We invite applications from GP & Consultant level clinicians who have at least 5 years post registration experience and who have completed the required Medical Examiner training,  the 26 RCPath on-line learning modules prior to interview. If successful at interview the appointed candidate will be required to attend the Royal College of Pathologists sign off event. A firm knowledge and understanding for the Medical Examiner service, and the Coroner and Justice Act should be demonstrated in your application.  An awareness of the death certification reforms and the statutory position is advantageous. 

You will be required to work in partnership with ME and MEO colleagues to develop the service and regularly review and refine over time. 

The minimum commitment is 1 PA a week (4-hour session) and you are required, to commit to and provide, 42 sessions a year.

We are really excited by this development, and we hope to recruit someone who is too, so that together, guided by clinical skill and ability to demonstrate our core values at all times, we can make a real difference to the bereaved and the learning from deaths agenda.

Person specification

N/A

Essential criteria
  • 5 years post registration
  • Medical Examiner 26 Core modules

N/A

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of the Medical Examiner system and learning from deaths

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable evidence of experience in formulating causes of death and death certification

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of the Coroner & Justice Act
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge/awareness of the death certification reforms and the statutory ME system

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Pregnancy Loss PledgeDisability confident employer

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lindsay Barker
Job title
Head of Medical Examiner & Bereavement Service.
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01743 261384
Additional information

If you wish to speak to the Lead Medical Examiner please contact:

Dr Suresh Ramadoss, Lead Medical Examiner & Consultant Renal Physician – 01743 261000 ext 1099

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