Concerns about coroners issues
In response to concerns raised regarding GP relationships with the coroners’ office, we recently requested examples of problems experienced by GPs and practice staff. Examples provided so far include:
- coroners lack of consistency and the problems this is causing for GPs;
- issues over cremation form completion/medical examiners;
- inappropriate requests to confirm the fact of death;
- lack of telephone access to coroners and coroners’ officers;
- long response times for replies to queries delaying the issuing of death certificates;
- delays in issuing of death certificates creating problems with communities who’s religious beliefs stipulate prompt burial after death;
- ambiguity around expected deaths and the 14 day rule;
- coroners emails going to old addresses or them not following requests to communicate urgent information by phone rather than email; and
- lost coroners paperwork distressing bereaved families, particularly those who have had young die children.
If you have any further examples you wish to share, please send them to info@lmc.org.uk.
We appreciate that coroners are under great pressure from new systems and budget cuts. Our aim is to work with them to minimise the distress caused to bereaved families by the process of certifying and/or investigating deaths and free-up GP time which is currently being spent waiting with deceased patients.
Last updated : 21 Mar 2018October 2015 newsletter now available (15 Oct 2015)
Londonwide LMCs NewsletterTamiflu in nursing and care homes (14 Oct 2015)
In January the GPC sought legal advice on Public Health England’s (PHE) instructions to prescribe Tamiflu for the prophylaxis of influenza in nursing and care homes where there have been...Improving well-being and health for dementia patients workshop (14 Oct 2015)
WHELD Research Programme (Improving Wellbeing and Health in Dementia) have organised an Royal College of General Practitioners accredited workshop for GPs in London. It will discuss anti-psychotic medication and no-pharmacological...Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set - participation voluntary (14 Oct 2015)
Advice has been sought from the BMA General Practitioners Committee’s IT Subcommittee on the Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set (CCG OIS) for 2013/14 and 2014/15. Practices have been asked to sign...Year-end deadline for agreement of GP Systems of Choice and GP IT services (14 Oct 2015)
NHS England has published an agreement for signature by practices and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) setting out the provision of GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) and GP IT services. The...Death in service benefits for locum GPs - are you covered? (14 Oct 2015)
You may already be aware that there are persistent current inequities regarding the entitlement to ‘death in service’ benefit for freelance/ locum GPs compared to their principal or salaried GP...Healthwatch ask General Practice Committee for transparency on additional charges (14 Oct 2015)
The General Practitioners Committee (GPC) recently met with Healthwatch England to discuss charges that GPs can make for work not covered by their contract. Whilst the patient group understands the...New London Ambulance Service proposals to introduce non-emergency transport (14 Oct 2015)
London Ambulance Service (LAS) have consulted with us about a new service which they are implementing to help them manage the need for emergency ambulances more efficiently. A letter outlining...Meningococcal B for infants – FAQs update (14 Oct 2015)
NHS Employers have updated their vaccs and imms FAQs in relation to meningococcal B for infants to explain the eligible age cohort (2 – 13 months), as well as a catch-up...Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation (14 Oct 2015)
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have introduced revalidation for all nurses and midwives in the UK: the most significant change to regulation in a generation. Revalidation means that everyone...Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.