New Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) Why is the MCCD changing? The implementation of The Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 in April 2015 is intended to improve the quality and accuracy of MCCDs. When is the MCCD changing? The first phase of this improvement is the introduction of a new MCCD form on the 6 th August 2014 (for all deaths certified after midnight on the 5 th August 2014). What happens if I complete an old version of the MCCD after 6 th August 2014? Old style MCCDs will be rejected by the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages and returned to the certifying doctor or another doctor in the team to complete and issue a new form. Who does this apply to? This applies to all grades of doctors signing a death certificate (except for still birth certificates) whether in primary care, secondary care, community hospitals, hospices, care homes, or other settings. What are the main changes to the MCCD? The new MCCD will be a double sided form in five sections (A to E). The main changes are the inclusion of: the deceased’s CHI number the Health Board area in which the death occurred the certifying doctor’s GMC number and business contact telephone number information about potential disposal hazards What will happen next? The old paper MCCD should be removed from clinical areas as of midnight of 5 th Aug Old forms and incompletely filled forms will not be accepted by the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages from 6 th August for deaths certified after midnight on 5 th August Educational materials to support the introduction of Phase 2, currently being developed by NHS Education for Scotland, will be available via each Scottish NHS Board Death Certification Implementation Lead from January Further information is available from (add Board Implementation Lead contact details here) NHS Board Logo

What are the changes scheduled for the full implementation of the Act? Implementation of the 2011 Act is in two main phases: August 2014 and April Scheduled ActivityDate PHASE 1 New paper based MCCD to be introduced nationally. Old style certificates cannot be used after midnight on the 5 th August. Old style MCCDs and incompletely filled MCCDs will be rejected by the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages and returned to the certifying doctor or another doctor in the team to complete and issue a new form. Cremation forms will be retained 6 th August 2014 PHASE 2 Electronic completion and transfer of MCCDs to start in primary care. Secondary care to followFrom April 2015 onwards Cessation of use of cremation forms New system of scrutiny of MCCDs becomes operational (led by Healthcare Improvement Scotland) New electronic system of reporting to the Procurator Fiscal becomes operational (led by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service) Healthcare Improvement Scotland takes over the process for administering and authorising the burial or cremation of those who have died outside the UK and are returned (repatriated) for burial or cremation in Scotland