Funeral directors say new system is causing delays

Helen Wathall says the new system is experiencing "teething problems"

Funeral directors say new legislation requiring senior doctors in England and Wales to independently scrutinise every death is leading to long delays for some families.

The death certification reforms came into effect on 9 September 2024 and are designed to provide better safeguards against medical negligence.

All deaths are now reviewed independently, either by a medical examiner or a coroner, before a death certificate is issued.

Some funeral directors in Derbyshire have told the BBC it means a longer wait for the certificate, saying the delay results in "difficult conversations" with bereaved families who want to see their loved ones.

Impact on families

"As a funeral director, we can't carry out a funeral without the certificate, we need a piece of paper from the registrars," said Helen Wathall, managing director of G Wathall and Son Funeral Directors in Derby.

"So whilst the death is unverified, we care for the deceased and look after them, but we're not, for example, allowed to embalm anyone because the death has not been verified.

"By the time the certification arrives, sometimes it's too late for us to do that, and the impact then is on the family, who may not be able to see their loved one and get peace from that."

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is yet to comment on the concerns raised by some funeral directors over the delays.

Under the new system, which was brought about partly in response to Harold Shipman's murders, GPs no longer issue death certificates independently.

After a GP completes a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD), an independent medical examiner reviews it.

Darlene Kinton says the changes have had a "massive impact" on funerals

Once approved, the certificate is sent to the registrar, who officially records the death.

The process means GPs have to give access to a patient's records in order for the medical examiner to decide if they agree with the MCCD.

Mrs Wathall said: "We're still receiving certificates from deaths that were in December, and we have not been able to facilitate any treatment on the deceased.

"So those families may or may not want to see their loved one in the chapel of rest because obviously change does happen.

"It's just sad because, for them, all they want to do is to see their loved one. They can do so during this process, but we are not allowed to do too much to make it a more peaceful experience for them."

'Causing distress'

Darlene Kinton, company director at Kinton and Daughter Family Funeral Directors in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, said the new system has had a "massive impact" on funerals.

"The whole process with the new system is now just taking so much longer, we're not seeing any [death certificates] any quicker than two to three weeks," she said.

"So we can't do any preparation and care of that person just in case the coroner decides that they would like to look into it further, so there are minimal procedures that we can carry out because we don't want to affect anything."

She added: "We can't stop the deterioration process once somebody's passed away, and, unfortunately, that means some people are now not being able to see their loved ones, and that's a very difficult conversation that we have to with family.

"It's not only delaying their natural grieving process, it's also causing them distress, it taints it, it spoils it for them, it's the overriding memory that they've got."

A spokesperson for the NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: "We strive to ensure the medical certificate of cause of death can be issued as quickly as possible.

"However, it can take longer when cases are complicated, or we have a high volume of deaths.

"The change in legislation is still very new, and we are continuing to improve our process across Derby and Derbyshire by appointing more medical examiners to ensure our part of the death certification process happens in a timely manner."