Out of Hour's Certification

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Medical Certificate Of Cause Of Death (MCCD)

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A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is a formal document that states the cause of death. The MCCD is issued by the hospital doctor if death took place in the hospital, or by the GP if death took place at home or within the community. This document will be required by the Registrar of Births and Deaths in order to register the death.

 

Before the MCCD can be issued a "Verification of Death" certificate will be produced. If death occurs at home the deceased's GP or the emergency doctor (in some cases a trained nurse or paramedic) will provide this. The "Verification of Death" certificate should not be confused with the MCCD.

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Who issues the MCCD?

 

The MCCD is normally issued by a deceased's GP  for deaths at home or care home or by the hospital doctor through Bereavement Services if death occurred in the hospital.  

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Procedural changes

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For deaths where the cause of death is known, the hospital where the death took place, or issuing GP will scan the MCCD directly to the Registrar of Birth & Death, no physical documents will be provided to the family.

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Note: For deaths within UHL the Medical Examiner (ME) will contact the next of kin and discuss the cause of death prior to issuing the MCCD.​

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Non-Viable Foetus Or Stillbirth

 

A non-Viable Foetus (NVF) is a child born prior to the 24th week of pregnancy.

 

A Stillborn is a child born after the 24th week of pregnancy.​

 

For Stillbirths the hospital where the delivery took place will issue the Certificate of Stillbirth (CS).  This document will be required by the Registrar of Births and Deaths in order to register the death. The hospital Duty Manager should scan the CS  directly to the Registrar of Birth & Death, no physical documents will be provided to the family.

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Note: There are no NVF burial facilities out of normal working hours.

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