Stronger support for families at the heart of death certification service

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A laptop keyboard has a stethoscope across it, with a form on a clip board beside it.

Supporting families at one of the most difficult times in their lives remains at the heart of our Death Certification Review Service (DCRS).

Supporting families at one of the most difficult times in their lives remains at the heart of our Death Certification Review Service (DCRS).

The team’s latest annual report highlights how the service is helping people who have suffered a bereavement through prompt, compassionate reviews. They do this while maintaining high standards in death certification.

Each year, DCRS reviews thousands of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death. They do this while working to minimise delays for bereaved families.

Quote / Testimonial:

“My aim has always been to place patients and families at the heart of our work, delivering improvements in a supportive and educational way.”

Dr. George Fernie, Senior Medical Reviewer
Death Certification Review Service, Healthcare Improvement Scotland

Despite continued pressures across health and public services, the team have maintained their focus on putting families first. The service completes reviews quickly and protects funeral arrangements from unnecessary delays.

There have been a number of achievements over the past year

  • 100% of advance registrations approved within two hours, helping families who need funeral arrangements to take place quickly.
  • Electronic death certificates successfully tested in NHS Lothian, paving the way for wider use across Scotland.
  • Access to clinical records expanded across all health boards, helping reviews take place more efficiently.
  • Legislative changes secured. This gives more families access to an interested person review when concerns are raised about a death certificate.
  • Improved support for cross-border funeral arrangements, helping families who want a funeral to take place in Scotland.

The new electronic systems and closer work with health boards will help improve the quality of death certificates in the future.

Further information