Introduction of Medical Examiners and Reforms to
Death Certification Update Newsletter
September 2016
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the latest edition of the Introduction of Medical
Examiners and Reforms to Death Certification Newsletter.
Planned Governance arrangements
Publication of Summary
of Responses to
Consultation
We had hoped to publish a
summary of the responses by
mid-September.
The Death Certification Reforms Strategic Programme Board
(SPB) held its inaugural meeting on 8th September. There was
Wishing to give careful
excellent turnout with lots of interesting and helpful discussion,
consideration to emerging
informed by feedback about the main themes from the DCR
issues from responses to the
consultation responses.
consultation and realising
that it will take longer than
The SPB also discussed the draft Terms of Reference and
the target three month
Membership of the SPB, progress across the Programme,
timeframe to do this and
approvals and assurances and touched on likely risks and
publish a response, we think
current issues; as well as the refreshed programme governance
that in the spirit of openness,
structure set out below.
we should be up front and let
Proposed programme governance groups and their roles.
you know about the delay
sooner rather than later.
The Strategic Programme Board will oversee and be
the primary decision-making body for the Programme
We cannot give a definitive
as a whole – see attached Programme governance
time frame, but aim to
structures and workstream structure charts.
publish a summary of
responses to the consultation
The Implementation Delivery Board will be
established to provide national leadership on the
reforms, support collaborative working between
national delivery partners, support and ensure
later in the autumn.
Coming up next
We will be writing to local
delivery of national programme deliverables.
The Local Delivery National Working Group will, in
due course, work as a forum to support collaborative
working between national and local delivery partners. It
will support delivery of practical support to Local
Authorities (LAs) and hold them to account for local
implementation and communication to local
stakeholders, etc.
The Local Delivery Forum, will, in due course, support
networking, mutual challenge between LA-level partners
to ensure successful implementation by LAs.
IPA Review
During the week of 19th September, the Infrastructure and
authority Chief Executives
soon to brief them on the
work being carried out in
preparation for the
introduction of medical
examiners into the death
certification process in
England and Wales.
We will be requesting their
support by seeking the
names of the individuals
tasked with leading
establishment of their local
medical examiner service.
Projects Authority of the Cabinet Office is undertaking a review of
the Medical Examiner and Death Certification Reforms
•••
Programme. Some of you may already be involved as the
Reviewers will be interviewing some the Programme’s partners
and stakeholders.
The next SPB meeting will
take place in the week
commencing 3rd October.
These reviews are part of the Government Assurance process for
The focus of discussion will
supporting and reporting on the Government Major Projects
be key policy issues feeding
Portfolio. The purpose of the Review is to assess delivery
confidence for the Programme and pinpoint any barriers that need
to be overcome.
into the final Impact
Assessment, informed by
relevant consultation
responses, with a view to
its subsequent approval by
ministers and HM
Treasury.
Please contact us at DeathCertification@dh.gsi.gov.uk if you
have any questions, comments or would like to discuss any
aspect of the Death Certification Programme
DCR Implementation Programme – Workstream Structure
LA Implementation
Constituent Projects
Legislation & Infrastructure (led by DH)
Constituent Projects:
•
Death Certification Reforms Legislation
•
MoJ’s amendments to Cremation Regulations 2008
•
DWP amendments on funeral expenses regulations
•
Prescribed Certificates, Guidance, Forms, Printing &
Distribution
•
Implementation Resource/Support
•
Implementation Planning and Delivery
•
Local Communication & Engagement Strategy/Plan
•
Developing a model Framework (Funeral Directors) for collection of the fee
•
Estates
•
Monitoring, Assurance and Evaluation
•
Implementation in Wales
Enabling Work Streams
Finance (led by DH)
Constituent Projects:
People (Led by RCPath, NME, LGA)
IT (Led by HSCIC, GRO, ONS)
•
Recruitment of NME, MEs, MEOs
•
IT Strategy, Specification & Mapping
•
New Burdens Assessment
•
Medical Examiner Standards & Performance
•
GRO System Development
•
LA Funding Model and Medical Examiner Fee
•
Training; system, MEs, Others, Assessment
•
ONS System Development
•
GRO/ONS Funding
and evaluation
•
Data Collection by Medical Examiner
•
Impact Assessment
•
Terms & conditions of employment
System
Programme Products that Support and Underpin Work Streams: Business Case, Operating Model, Programme Resource Plan, Communication
Strategy/Plan, Benefits Realisation Plan, Programme Plan
1
DH – Leading the nation’s health and care
DCR Implementation Programme Governance Structure Chart
Death Certification Reforms Strategic Programme Board
The primary decision-making body for the programme
Members: DH, LGA, SOLACE, DCLG,GRO, MoJ, ONS, RCPath, Welsh Government.
Observers: Northern Ireland, Scottish Government
Death Certification Implementation Delivery Board
Less senior; meets monthly to provide national leadership on the reforms, support collaborative working between
delivery partners, support and ensure delivery of national programme deliverables
Members: DH, LGA, DCLG, Welsh Government, DWP, GRO, ONS, RCPath, BMA, RCGP, NHS England, NAFD/SAIF,
Coroners’ Society, Chief Coroners Office, Medical Examiners Pilot sites.
Observers: Northern Ireland, Scottish Government
Death Certification Local Delivery National Working Group
Meets monthly. Working level forum to support collaborative working between national and local delivery partners,
supporting delivery of partners, supporting delivery of practical support to LAs, hold LAs to account for local
implementation and communication to stakeholders etc.
Members: DH, LGA, DCLG, GRO, RCPath, NAFD/SAIF, local NHS stakeholders, Medical Examiners Pilot sites.
Death Certification Local Delivery Forum
Weekly or fortnightly conference calls. Supports networking, mutual challenge between LA-level partners to ensure
successful local implementation by LAs.
Members: Local implementation leads
1
Sub-committees: Provides Expert Advice/Input
Work Streams:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Death Certification Reforms Reference Group
MCCD Working Group
GRO Registration Projects Steering Group
Life Events and Population Sources Management Board
ONS Life Events Redevelopment Project Board
RCPath Committee on Training
E-LFHC Medical Examiner Project Committee
Death Certification Reforms Programme
Legislation and Infrastructure
Local Authority Implementation
Finance
People
IT
Communications
Accountable/Reports
Feeds Into