Administrator, Medical Examiner’s Office

Job summary

The Cornwall Medical Examiner Service is hosted by RCHT and the office is located at the Royal Cornwall Hospital

Since the 9th September 2024, along with other death certification reforms, the role of the Medical Examiner Office has become statutory. TheMedical Examiners review all deaths in Cornwall that do not automatically require a Coroner referral.

The Medical Examiners are supported by Medical Examiner Officers and this exciting new role, gives the opportunity to support the whole Medical Examiner office team in the process relating to the scrutiny of all acute hospital and community deaths. This role is initially on a fixed term contract until April 2025.

It is a bustling and busy office environment and we are looking for someone who has a keen eye for detail and accuracy, who is a good communicator and is able to cope with the distractions and interruptions that this busy office brings.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide administrative support to the Medical Examiner team to assist in ensuring that Medical Certificates of Cause of Death are issued in line with, departmental, regional and national policy.

To support the Medical Examiner Officers and Medical Examiners with the administrative duties that come with reviewing a death.

By preparing and processing Medical Examiner documentation, scanning medical certificates to the registrar and necessary documents to and from the Coroner's Service.

To support the bereaved by taking their phone enquiries and informing them of the Medical Examiner service and what support they will be receiving from the team.

To liaise with medical staff at all levels to ensure completion of the medical certificate of cause of death in a timely manner.

To input and maintain comprehensive data on all the deaths reviewed by the service using the electronic systems currently used by the Cornwall ME Office

To provide administrative support to the Medical Examiner Officers with the running of the office environment.

To liaise with external providers (GP practices, community hospitals, Hospice, Coroner Service) to ensure accurate MCCDs and fully completed referrals are sent to the service so that prompt medical examiner review can go ahead and completion of the MCCD. Where there is an issue with the MCCD or ME referral, to raise this with the appropriate stakeholder and chase up any amendments required.

About us

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We serve a population of around 500,000 people - a figure that can increase significantly with

visitors during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £580 million.

We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School.

The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non-clinical roles.

Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE NOTE : To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side.

To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following :

Identity Checks

Professional registration and qualification checks

Employment history and reference checks

Occupational Health clearance

Satisfactory