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MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF CAUSE OF DEATH (MCCD)

How a death is certified

What happens when a GP or hospital doctor prepares the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, how the independent review works, and when your family can register the death.

See the steps ↓Find an NHS office ↓

THE PROCESS AT A GLANCE

From the doctor to registration

01

A death occurs

After the death has been verified, the GP practice or hospital team checks whether an eligible attending doctor is available to certify the cause of death.

02

Can an attending doctor complete the MCCD?

Yes: A licensed doctor who attended the person during their lifetime and can establish the cause prepares the MCCD and sends it with relevant records to the medical examiner. Depending on where care was provided, this may be a GP or hospital doctor.

No: The team checks for another eligible doctor who attended the person. If none is available within a reasonable time, the case is referred to the coroner.

03

The medical examiner reviews the case

The independent doctor checks the proposed cause and relevant records, discusses the case with the attending doctor as needed, and offers the family a chance to ask questions or raise concerns. Speaking with the office is optional.

ROUTE A

A natural cause is established

When the cause is agreed and no referral is needed, the medical examiner countersigns the MCCD and the office sends it to the registrar.

Wait until you are told you can register. The usual legal deadline is five days from the registrar receiving the MCCD, including weekends and bank holidays. If you need longer, tell the register office straight away.

The registrar normally issues the green burial form after registration. Pass it to your funeral director or burial authority before the funeral. The funeral director can coordinate collection once the body is cleared for release.

ROUTE B

The case goes to the coroner

This may happen when the cause is unknown, the death may be violent or unnatural, the person died in custody or state detention, or no eligible attending doctor is available.

CN1A
If no investigation is required, the coroner may return the case to the attending doctor for certification and independent scrutiny.
CN1B
Exceptionally, when the cause is known and natural and no attending doctor is available in reasonable time, the coroner may ask the medical examiner to issue the MCCD and send it to the registrar after review.
Investigation
The coroner directs the next steps and provides the registrar with the relevant documentation when appropriate. Once the body can be released, the coroner may issue a burial order (Form 101), so burial can proceed even if an inquest is still open.

Why the review matters

A medical examiner is a senior doctor who was independent of the deceased person’s care. The system aims to:

  • Give families and the public greater safeguards through independent review of deaths outside a coroner’s investigation.
  • Identify deaths that should be referred to the coroner.
  • Give families an opportunity to ask questions or raise care concerns with a doctor who was independent of the person’s care.
  • Improve the quality of death certificates and the data used to understand causes of death.

What it means for your family

Independent review was already used for many hospital deaths before the statutory reform extended it across care settings. It adds a check, and in some cases a very quick burial may be difficult to arrange.

If an early burial is important for religious reasons, tell the medical examiner’s office and your funeral director as soon as you can. Ask about urgent review or release before confirming a burial time. We can help you understand the paperwork and coordinate the next steps.

Speak to our team · 07376 989 081

NHS CONTACTS

Find a medical examiner office

Search by hospital, NHS trust, town or postcode. For an individual case, contact the local office handling the death. The GP practice or hospital team can tell you which office that is.

Directory checked 10 November 2026. Official contact details may change. NHS England · NHS Wales

East of England17

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: CB2 0QQ (for hospital deaths at Cambridge University Hospital only. Contact Royal Papworth Hospital for community deaths)

Email: cuh.medicalexaminer@nhs.net

Contact number: 01223 217843

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: CB2 0AY (for deaths at Royal Papworth Hospital and community deaths)

Email: papworth.meo@nhs.net

Contact number: 01223 638868

London18

Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust: RM7 0AG

Coverage: BHRUT NHS Trust and community deaths in the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge

Email: bhrut.medicalexamineroffice@nhs.net

Contact number: 01708 50 43 43

Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust: SM5 1AA

Coverage: Epsom and St Helier University NHS Trust and community deaths in the London Borough of Sutton

Email: esth.medex@nhs.net

Contact numbers:

020 8296 2492 St Helier

01372 735439 Epsom

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust: SE1 7EH

Coverage: GSTT NHS Foundation Trust (including: Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals, Evelina London Children’s hospital, the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals) and community deaths in the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark

Email:

medicalexaminer@gstt.nhs.uk or for community deaths gst-tr.medicalexaminer@nhs.net

Contact numbers:

0207 188 9450 – GSTT, Evelina and Community

0330 128 2268 – Royal Brompton

01895 828638 – Harefield

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: SE5 9RS

Coverage: Kings College Hospital NHSFT (including Kings College, Princess Royal University, Farnborough and Orpington hospitals) and community deaths in the London Boroughs of Bexley and Bromley.

Email:

kch-tr.meoffice@nhs.net

kch-tr.communitymeoffice@nhs.net

Contact numbers:

Kings College – 0203 299 4051

Princess Royal University Hospital – 01689 863339

Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust: KT2 7QB

Coverage: Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust and community deaths in the London Boroughs of Kingston and Richmond.

Email: khft.medicalexaminers@nhs.net

Contact number: 020 8934 3478 and 3479

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust: HA1 3UJ

Coverage: LNW University Healthcare NHS Trust (including Central Middlesex, Ealing and Northwick Park hospitals), the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust and community deaths in the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing and Harrow.

Email: lnwh-tr.medicalexaminer@nhs.net

Contact number: 020 8869 2961

North Middlesex University Hospital Nhs Trust: N18 1QX

Coverage: North Middlesex University NHS Trust and community deaths in the London Boroughs of Enfield and Haringey

Email: northmid.medicalexaminer@nhs.net

Contact number: 0208 887 2838

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust: NW3 2QG

Coverage: the Royal Free London NHSFT and community deaths in the London Borough of Barnet

Email:

rf-tr.rfmeo@nhs.net

Contact numbers:

Royal Free Hospital: 020 7472 6393

Barnet Hospital: 020 8216 4744

St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: SW17 0QT

Coverage: St George’s University Hospital NHSFT and community deaths in the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth

Email: Medicalexaminer@stgeorges.nhs.uk

Contact number: 0208 725 4317

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: NW1 2BU

Coverage: UCLH NHSFT, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHSFT, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHSFT, The Royal Marsden NHSFT and community deaths in the London Borough of Camden

Email: uclh.medicalexaminer@nhs.net

Contact number: 0203 447 5130;

0203 447 5129

Midlands20
North East and Yorkshire24

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: YO31 8HE

Coverage: York & Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and community deaths in the City of York and North Yorkshire

Email: yhs-tr.medicalexaminerservice@nhs.net

Contact number:

York – 01904 721132

Scarborough – 01723 385481

North West19

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: FY3 8NR

Coverage: Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Trust and area of Blackpool.

Email: bfwh.meo@nhs.net

Contact number: 01253 956766

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust: BB2 3HH

Coverage: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and the areas of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and Ribble Valley.

Email: elht.elme@nhs.net

Contact number: 01254 735753

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: PR2 9HT

Coverage: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the areas of Preston and Chorley.

Email: medical.examiner@lthtr.nhs.uk

Contact number: 01772 528184

Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: L9 7AL

Coverage: Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the areas of Liverpool and South Sefton (not Southport or Formby).

Email: meservice@liverpoolft.nhs.uk

Contact number: 0151 7063803

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust: M23 9LT

Coverage: Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the areas of Trafford and Central Manchester.

Email: MEO@mft.nhs.uk

Contact number: 0161 701 6686

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital

St Helens and Knowsley Medical Examiner’s Office based at Whiston Hospital: L35 5DR.

Coverage: Whiston Hospital, St. Helens Hospital, Newton Community Hospital and the areas of St. Helens, Knowsley, Billinge and Orrell.

Email: medicalexaminersoffice@sthk.nhs.uk

St Helens and Knowsley Office: 0151 430 1227 (main number); 0151 478 7830 (alternative)

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust based at Salford Royal Hospital M6 8HD | The Royal Oldham Hospital OL1 2JH | Fairfield General Hospital, Bury BL9 7TD.

Coverage: Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and the areas of Salford (except Boothstown), Oldham, Bury and Rochdale

For deaths in Salford Royal Hospital and Salford Council area: salford.medical.examiner@nca.nhs.uk

For deaths in all other NCA settings: medical.examiner2@nca.nhs.uk

Bury office: 0161 778 2122

Oldham office: 0161 778 5701

Salford office: 0161 206 2641

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust based at: Stockport NHS Foundation Trust: SK2 7JE | East Cheshire NHS Trust: SK10 3BL.

Coverage: Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, East Cheshire NHS Trust and the areas of High Peak, Stockport and the East Cheshire Council areas around Wilmslow, Poynton, Knutsford, Alderley Edge, Macclesfield, Holmes Chapel and Congleton.

Email: Stockport, High Peak and East Cheshire: Medicalexaminers.Office@stockport.nhs.uk

Contact number: 0161 419 5773/5770/5774

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust: 0L6 9RW

Coverage: Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and the council areas of Tameside and Glossop.

Email: me-meoservices@tgh.nhs.uk

Contact number: 0161 922 5206 or 0161 922 6872

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust based at: Royal Lancaster infirmary – LA1 4RP | Furness General Hospital – LA14 4LF | Westmorland General Hospital – LA9 7RG

Coverage: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and the areas of Barrow, South Lakes, Lancaster and Garstang.

Email: medical.examineroffice@mbht.nhs.uk

Contact number: 01524 591440

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: CH49 5PE

Coverage: Wirral University Hospital sites including Arrowe Park and also deaths in the surrounding community.

Email: wuth.medicalexaminerofficer@nhs.net

Contact number:0151 604 7091

South East18
South West12
National and regional medical examiner office contacts8
Contact details for Wales5

Official guidance