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| Death certificate delays leave family in limbo | |
| (2 days later) | |
| Paul Crook wants the new rules to be reviewed after waiting weeks to to bury his loved-ones | Paul Crook wants the new rules to be reviewed after waiting weeks to to bury his loved-ones |
| A family has had to wait weeks before planning the funerals of two relatives because of delays in death certificates being issued. | A family has had to wait weeks before planning the funerals of two relatives because of delays in death certificates being issued. |
| Paul Crook, from Langstone, Newport, said he had also had to make repeated phone calls to hurry the process along as he grieved for both of his in-laws. | Paul Crook, from Langstone, Newport, said he had also had to make repeated phone calls to hurry the process along as he grieved for both of his in-laws. |
| The new system, brought about partly in response to Harold Shipman's murders, means all deaths not investigated by a coroner are now reviewed independently by a medical examiner before a death certificate is issued. | The new system, brought about partly in response to Harold Shipman's murders, means all deaths not investigated by a coroner are now reviewed independently by a medical examiner before a death certificate is issued. |
| The Welsh government said it was sorry for the delays, adding that the new system was designed to safeguard families and may "take some time to fully bed in". | The Welsh government said it was sorry for the delays, adding that the new system was designed to safeguard families and may "take some time to fully bed in". |
| Under the new system, introduced on 9 September 2024, GPs no longer issue death certificates independently. | Under the new system, introduced on 9 September 2024, GPs no longer issue death certificates independently. |
| After a doctor completes a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD), an independent medical examiner reviews it. | After a doctor completes a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD), an independent medical examiner reviews it. |
| Mr Crook, whose family suffered two bereavements in a matter of months, is one of a number of people calling for a review of the system in England and Wales. | Mr Crook, whose family suffered two bereavements in a matter of months, is one of a number of people calling for a review of the system in England and Wales. |
| His father-in-law Anthony Roberts died on 26 November, but they did not get his death certificate until 13 December - 17 days later - which was when they could start planning the funeral. | His father-in-law Anthony Roberts died on 26 November, but they did not get his death certificate until 13 December - 17 days later - which was when they could start planning the funeral. |
| The funeral then took place on 27 December, 31 days after Mr Roberts died. | The funeral then took place on 27 December, 31 days after Mr Roberts died. |
| Mr Roberts' wife June fell ill on 20 December and died on 2 January, with her death certificate not issued until 13 January. | Mr Roberts' wife June fell ill on 20 December and died on 2 January, with her death certificate not issued until 13 January. |
| It means Mrs Roberts' funeral will not take place until 3 February, 32 days after her death. | It means Mrs Roberts' funeral will not take place until 3 February, 32 days after her death. |
| Mr Crook said he also needed to call up to chase the process "many, many times". | Mr Crook said he also needed to call up to chase the process "many, many times". |
| "When you did get an answer, often you'd be put through to an automated system and then eventually the call would drop off and you'd been waiting ten minutes for a response," said Mr Crook. | "When you did get an answer, often you'd be put through to an automated system and then eventually the call would drop off and you'd been waiting ten minutes for a response," said Mr Crook. |
| "You'd then call back and eventually get to speak to somebody and they then give you a status update which was usually 'it's being chased, we're waiting for a doctor'." | "You'd then call back and eventually get to speak to somebody and they then give you a status update which was usually 'it's being chased, we're waiting for a doctor'." |
| The new rules were introduced partly in response to an inquiry into Harold Shipman, a doctor found guilty of murdering 15 of his patients and suspected of killing many more | The new rules were introduced partly in response to an inquiry into Harold Shipman, a doctor found guilty of murdering 15 of his patients and suspected of killing many more |
| Natasha Asghar, the Conservative Senedd member for South Wales East, echoed Mr Crook's calls for a review. | Natasha Asghar, the Conservative Senedd member for South Wales East, echoed Mr Crook's calls for a review. |
| "Why exactly do we have this backlog?," Ms Asghar said. | "Why exactly do we have this backlog?," Ms Asghar said. |
| "Whilst I have all the respect and admiration for those people who work in the front line [and] I can understand it's a very high pressured job, it is essential that the Welsh government carries out a review sooner rather than later to prevent incidents like this from happening ever again." | "Whilst I have all the respect and admiration for those people who work in the front line [and] I can understand it's a very high pressured job, it is essential that the Welsh government carries out a review sooner rather than later to prevent incidents like this from happening ever again." |
| The process was taking "up to three times as long" as it used to, according to Rachel Bradburne from the National Association of Funeral Directors. | The process was taking "up to three times as long" as it used to, according to Rachel Bradburne from the National Association of Funeral Directors. |
| "We're looking at two to three weeks from death to contact with the medical examiner," she said. | "We're looking at two to three weeks from death to contact with the medical examiner," she said. |
| "Just to put it in some context, before 9 September it was an average of a week, so just extending that period has some very serious consequences." | "Just to put it in some context, before 9 September it was an average of a week, so just extending that period has some very serious consequences." |
| A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We would like to apologise to any families who have experienced delays in receiving death certificates, which may have affected their funeral plans. | A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We would like to apologise to any families who have experienced delays in receiving death certificates, which may have affected their funeral plans. |
| "Changes introduced in England and Wales to reform the death certification process are designed to strengthen safeguards for families but these may take some time to fully bed in. | "Changes introduced in England and Wales to reform the death certification process are designed to strengthen safeguards for families but these may take some time to fully bed in. |
| "We are working with the lead medical examiner and the NHS in Wales to understand where the delays are, and how bereaved families can be provided with additional support at such a difficult time." | "We are working with the lead medical examiner and the NHS in Wales to understand where the delays are, and how bereaved families can be provided with additional support at such a difficult time." |