New Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)

1. New Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) • 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 5th Aug 2014. • Arrangements are being made to issue new MCCD books to all relevant areas during July. • Certifying doctors must complete a short training programme which is available on StaffNet. Other staff are asked to familiarise themselves with the changes. • Further information is available from: • http://www.staffnet.ggc.scot.nhs.uk/Human%20Resources/Learning%20and%20Education/Pages/Newmccd.aspx • Email: newmccd@ggc.scot.nhs.uk • Why is the MCCD changing? • The implementation of The Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 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 6th August 2014 (for all deaths certified after midnight on the 5th August 2014). • What happens if I complete an old version of the MCCD after 6th August 2014? • Old style MCCD’s will be rejected by the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. The certifying doctor or another doctor in the team will be required 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.