The Government has responded to the consultation and set out its intentions to reform death certification. The purpose of the reforms is to improve engagement with bereaved people in the process of death certification and offer them an opportunity to raise any concerns, as well as improving the quality and accuracy of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death.

The new role of Medical Examiner will be established, initially to examine deaths in the NHS. Following this interim period and when Parliamentary time allows for the system to move to a statutory footing, the system will cover all deaths.

The Government has proposed that all child deaths (up to age 18) be exempt from the cost associated with the Medical Examiner system. This aligns with the broader purpose of the Government’s recent announcement about steps to ensure that no bereaved family will have to pay for the essential costs of burying or cremating their child.