Medical Examiner

We are

looking for a Medical Examiner to join our established Medical Examiner Office

for 1 session per week (Friday am or pm).

The post holder will be an appropriately

trained, experienced consultant (or equivalent) who will provide support and

guidance to medical staff undertaking death certification and be the primary

point of contact for bereaved families who have any concerns prior to

death. In addition, for all in-hospital

deaths they may identify cases which would benefit for further review by the

Trust Stage 2 Mortality Review Panel or an escalation to the Medical Director

for further scrutiny. The Medical

Examiner will also complete Part 2 of the Cremation Form, where applicable, and

have professional independence when reviewing deaths.

You must

be registered with a license to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least

three years experience at consultant (or equivalent) level and must have been

registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at

the date of appointment.

This role

will complement the Trusts mortality review process to support the

implementation of national guidance on learning from deaths.

Main duties of the job

The

Medical Examiner Office currently consists of a Medical Examiners, Lead

Medical Examiner Officer and Medical

Examiner Officers and is responsible for reviewing all deaths in any health setting that are not investigated by a

coroner across South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Main

duties of the role include:

Review the case records of patients who have

died within the Trust

Support those doctors who call for medical

advice on suspected natural causes of death when writing the Medical

Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

Provide advice on the appropriate referral of

cases to the coroner

Scrutinise the causes of deaths where an MCCD

is to be or has been completed

Contact the deceaseds next of kin to

explain the cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner,

which respects different faith, cultural, ethnic and diversity

considerations.

Complete Part 2 of the Cremation Form, where

applicable

Maintain

comprehensive records of all deaths screened and provide input to analysis of

mortality data

Be familiar with the role and function of the

Coroner and able to present complex medical information in such a way as to

assist the Coroner decide whether to investigate a death about which they

have been notified.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI,

and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we

may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Details

Date posted

15 October 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£113,565 to £150,569 a year

pro rata for part time - 1 PA per week

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9155-CRMD-1026-15

Job locations

South Tyneside District Hospital

Harton Lane

South Shields

NE34 0PL

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) is

introducing a Medical Examiner (ME) role in line with national guidance in

preparation for this role to become a statutory role. It will complement the

STSFT mortality review process to support the implementation of national

guidance on learning from deaths.

The STSFT MEs will be appropriately trained, experienced

Consultants who will provide support and guidance to medical staff undertaking

death certification and be the primary point of contact for bereaved families

who have any concerns about care prior to death. Whilst undertaking this role

for all in-hospital deaths they may identify cases which would benefit from

further review by the Trust Stage 2 Mortality Review Panel or an escalation to

the Medical Director for further scrutiny.

STSFT MEs will also countersign death certificates as part

of their role.

Medical Examiners will have professional independence when

reviewing deaths.

Medical Examiners must avoid any potential conflicts of

interest and must transfer to another ME the responsibility for the review of

any death in which they have had a personal, professional or fiduciary

relationship with the deceased person, the next-of-kin or near relative of the

deceased, or with the attending doctor who prepared the MCCD.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Job responsibilities

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) is

introducing a Medical Examiner (ME) role in line with national guidance in

preparation for this role to become a statutory role. It will complement the

STSFT mortality review process to support the implementation of national

guidance on learning from deaths.

The STSFT MEs will be appropriately trained, experienced

Consultants who will provide support and guidance to medical staff undertaking

death certification and be the primary point of contact for bereaved families

who have any concerns about care prior to death. Whilst undertaking this role

for all in-hospital deaths they may identify cases which would benefit from

further review by the Trust Stage 2 Mortality Review Panel or an escalation to

the Medical Director for further scrutiny.

STSFT MEs will also countersign death certificates as part

of their role.

Medical Examiners will have professional independence when

reviewing deaths.

Medical Examiners must avoid any potential conflicts of

interest and must transfer to another ME the responsibility for the review of

any death in which they have had a personal, professional or fiduciary

relationship with the deceased person, the next-of-kin or near relative of the

deceased, or with the attending doctor who prepared the MCCD.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least five years experience. The candidate must have been registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.
• Candidate will have successfully completed the approved components of the national on-line training curriculum as a precondition of employment as a Medical Examiner. Confirmation of appointment is subject to successful completion of face to face component of the national training curriculum. [Note: access to on-line training will be available to all medical practitioners registered & licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC]

Experience

Essential

• Working knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment, preferably in the UK.
• Up to date knowledge of clinical causes of death, together with death certification requirements and processes.
• Ability to demonstrate proportionate and professional judgement to determine the degree to which independent scrutiny is pursued where death certificates have been issued.
• Commitment to maintain knowledge and keep skills up to date.
• Ability to manage an information-based process under tight timescales

Desirable

• Knowledge of legal framework and relevant jurisdiction relating to the process of death certification.
• IT competent, for the purposes of efficient scrutiny and routine analysis of information for local clinical governance and public health surveillance.

Safety and Quality

Essential

• Knowledge of clinical governance systems as they affect the work of professionals and organisations.
• Ability to identify available data sources to support detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
• Ability to act proportionately and report sub-standard clinical and organisational performance to relevant colleagues to protect patients.
• Ability to identify good practice and ensure the spread of knowledge amongst relevant colleagues.
• Ability to put in place appropriate reporting, information sharing and feedback mechanisms

Desirable

• Ability to undertake routine analysis of information on cause of death for local clinical governance and public health surveillance.

Communication, Partnership and Teamwork

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively within own team and with people in other disciplines (medical examiners officer, attending practitioner, senior coroner, the police, funeral director, & Registrar)
• Ability to communicate effectively and with sensitivity with the relatives or representatives of the deceased when explaining the cause of death
• Ability to work within own team and closely with people in other disciplines
• Good organisational and leadership skills
• Good management skills - able to demonstrate effective and efficient working practices

Desirable

• Ability to assist or deliver training to enhance skills within the MEs team and junior doctors in the process of death certification

Maintaining trust

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate transparency when explaining cause of death to bereaved families and make it easier to raise concerns.
• Awareness of equality and diversity issues within the community and a demonstrable ability to understand the requirements of diverse faith groups

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least five years experience. The candidate must have been registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.
• Candidate will have successfully completed the approved components of the national on-line training curriculum as a precondition of employment as a Medical Examiner. Confirmation of appointment is subject to successful completion of face to face component of the national training curriculum. [Note: access to on-line training will be available to all medical practitioners registered & licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC]

Experience

Essential

• Working knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment, preferably in the UK.
• Up to date knowledge of clinical causes of death, together with death certification requirements and processes.
• Ability to demonstrate proportionate and professional judgement to determine the degree to which independent scrutiny is pursued where death certificates have been issued.
• Commitment to maintain knowledge and keep skills up to date.
• Ability to manage an information-based process under tight timescales

Desirable

• Knowledge of legal framework and relevant jurisdiction relating to the process of death certification.
• IT competent, for the purposes of efficient scrutiny and routine analysis of information for local clinical governance and public health surveillance.

Safety and Quality

Essential

• Knowledge of clinical governance systems as they affect the work of professionals and organisations.
• Ability to identify available data sources to support detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
• Ability to act proportionately and report sub-standard clinical and organisational performance to relevant colleagues to protect patients.
• Ability to identify good practice and ensure the spread of knowledge amongst relevant colleagues.
• Ability to put in place appropriate reporting, information sharing and feedback mechanisms

Desirable

• Ability to undertake routine analysis of information on cause of death for local clinical governance and public health surveillance.

Communication, Partnership and Teamwork

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively within own team and with people in other disciplines (medical examiners officer, attending practitioner, senior coroner, the police, funeral director, & Registrar)
• Ability to communicate effectively and with sensitivity with the relatives or representatives of the deceased when explaining the cause of death
• Ability to work within own team and closely with people in other disciplines
• Good organisational and leadership skills
• Good management skills - able to demonstrate effective and efficient working practices

Desirable

• Ability to assist or deliver training to enhance skills within the MEs team and junior doctors in the process of death certification

Maintaining trust

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate transparency when explaining cause of death to bereaved families and make it easier to raise concerns.
• Awareness of equality and diversity issues within the community and a demonstrable ability to understand the requirements of diverse faith groups

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Additional information

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Tyneside District Hospital

Harton Lane

South Shields

NE34 0PL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Tyneside District Hospital

Harton Lane

South Shields

NE34 0PL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) is

introducing a Medical Examiner (ME) role in line with national guidance in

preparation for this role to become a statutory role. It will complement the

STSFT mortality review process to support the implementation of national

guidance on learning from deaths.

The STSFT MEs will be appropriately trained, experienced

Consultants who will provide support and guidance to medical staff undertaking

death certification and be the primary point of contact for bereaved families

who have any concerns about care prior to death. Whilst undertaking this role

for all in-hospital deaths they may identify cases which would benefit from

further review by the Trust Stage 2 Mortality Review Panel or an escalation to

the Medical Director for further scrutiny.

STSFT MEs will also countersign death certificates as part

of their role.

Medical Examiners will have professional independence when

reviewing deaths.

Medical Examiners must avoid any potential conflicts of

interest and must transfer to another ME the responsibility for the review of

any death in which they have had a personal, professional or fiduciary

relationship with the deceased person, the next-of-kin or near relative of the

deceased, or with the attending doctor who prepared the MCCD.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Qualifications

Essential

• Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least five years experience. The candidate must have been registered as a medical practitioner throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.
• Candidate will have successfully completed the approved components of the national on-line training curriculum as a precondition of employment as a Medical Examiner. Confirmation of appointment is subject to successful completion of face to face component of the national training curriculum. [Note: access to on-line training will be available to all medical practitioners registered & licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC]

Experience

Essential

• Working knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment, preferably in the UK.
• Up to date knowledge of clinical causes of death, together with death certification requirements and processes.
• Ability to demonstrate proportionate and professional judgement to determine the degree to which independent scrutiny is pursued where death certificates have been issued.
• Commitment to maintain knowledge and keep skills up to date.
• Ability to manage an information-based process under tight timescales

Desirable

• Knowledge of legal framework and relevant jurisdiction relating to the process of death certification.
• IT competent, for the purposes of efficient scrutiny and routine analysis of information for local clinical governance and public health surveillance.

Safety and Quality

Essential

• Knowledge of clinical governance systems as they affect the work of professionals and organisations.
• Ability to identify available data sources to support detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
• Ability to act proportionately and report sub-standard clinical and organisational performance to relevant colleagues to protect patients.
• Ability to identify good practice and ensure the spread of knowledge amongst relevant colleagues.
• Ability to put in place appropriate reporting, information sharing and feedback mechanisms

Desirable

• Ability to undertake routine analysis of information on cause of death for local clinical governance and public health surveillance.

Communication, Partnership and Teamwork

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively within own team and with people in other disciplines (medical examiners officer, attending practitioner, senior coroner, the police, funeral director, & Registrar)
• Ability to communicate effectively and with sensitivity with the relatives or representatives of the deceased when explaining the cause of death
• Ability to work within own team and closely with people in other disciplines
• Good organisational and leadership skills
• Good management skills - able to demonstrate effective and efficient working practices

Desirable

• Ability to assist or deliver training to enhance skills within the MEs team and junior doctors in the process of death certification

Maintaining trust

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate transparency when explaining cause of death to bereaved families and make it easier to raise concerns.
• Awareness of equality and diversity issues within the community and a demonstrable ability to understand the requirements of diverse faith groups