Guidance: Changes to the death certification process

Department Of Health

May 22

14:53 2024

This is an overview of the changes to the process of death certification in England and Wales planned from 9 September 2024.

The purpose of this guidance is to help those involved in the death management system to understand and prepare for the reforms. This includes:

Published 26 May 2016
Last updated 22 May 2024 +show all updates

22 May 2024
This page has been updated to reflect that regulations were laid before Parliament on 15 April 2024, which will introduce the statutory medical examiner system from 9 September 2024. The timetable has been updated to set out the actions DHSC will take between April and September, including distribution of the new paper medical certificate of cause of death. In the annex under 'secondary legislation', a link to the Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 has also been added.
14 December 2023
The overview has been updated throughout to reflect the publication of draft regulations on the introduction of medical examiners and changes to the medical certificate of cause of death.
26 May 2016
First published.