Medical Examiner (Consultant) - THQ - University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Medical Examiner (Consultant) - THQ - University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust – Southampton, City of Southampton

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Medical Examiners are senior medical doctors from all specialties, both in hospital and community who are contracted for a number of sessions a week outside of their usual clinical duties to perform review and scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths.

Role Responsibilities

1. Perform proportionate scrutiny of the case by reviewing the case notes, interrogating historical patient notes where appropriate and speaking to the qualified attending practitioner (AP).
2. Agree to the proposed cause of death and accuracy of the Medical Certificate for the Cause of Death (MCCD).
3. Establish whether the case warrants referral to HM Coroner for further action.
4. Offer medical advice (but not act as an expert witness) to HM Coroner.
5. Discuss cause of death with the deceased nominated contact in conjunction with the Medical Examiner Officers (MEO) when appropriate.
6. Establish whether the case needs internal referral to patient safety or specialty morbidity and mortality meetings.
7. Report any identified trends in where clinical care falls short of what would be normally expected.

What We Can Offer You

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on-site and remote working. Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep.

What You’ll Do

1. Medical examiners perform a scrutiny of the notes of all deceased patients, they discuss the proposed cause of death with the attending team, and they explain the cause of death to the bereaved families and ascertain if there are any family concerns. Medical Examiners can also help to identify whether a case requires referral to the Coroner's Office.
2. Medical examiners will be based within and employed by the Trust but will have an external reporting line via the regional ME. They will promote robust, transparent and independent scrutiny of the death certification process and ensure that the correct referrals are made to the Coroner. They will work closely with the Coroners and Registrars of Deaths.
3. Contribute to the improvement of the medical examiner service.

What We’re Looking For

1. Registered with a licence to practice in the UK by the GMC.
2. As a pre-condition of practicing, an ME must have successfully completed the mandatory components of the national online medical examiner curriculum.
3. Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, which includes non-clinical Medical Examiner Officers.
4. We welcome applications from GP, community-based doctors and consultants.
5. Must successfully complete the mandatory e-learning modules by the time they start the role.
6. Must attend a face-to-face training session within the first six months in post.

Additional Information

Individuals wishing to apply must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). The successful candidate will be employed under the terms and conditions of service for Consultants (England) 2003.

Interviews will be held on TBC. Job Reference: MT1298 - This vacancy closes on or before: 20th November 2024.

Should you have any queries, please use the contact details below to get in touch.