Delays in getting death certificate are creating extra anguish for grieving relatives, says bereaved son
A MAN who had to wait 15 days to register his mother’s death has described the new process as “a nightmare” that “compounded his grief”.
Robert Nesbitt’s mother, Marjorie Skinner, died on January 5 at Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan Hospital from a brain tumour and influenza.
Under changes to the death certification process, introduced in England and Wales in September 2024, all deaths must be reviewed independently by a medical examiner or coroner.
This change was recommended after an inquiry into how mass murderer and GP Harold Shipman remained undetected for so long. But it has caused delays to death certificates being issued.
“It’s just awful not knowing what is going on,” said Mr Nesbitt, who had to make several phone calls to find out why it was taking so long.
The 67-year-old said it was a very slow process, with “15 days of nothing happening”.
“You can’t move forward, you can’t arrange the funeral,” he said.
“When somebody dies the last thing you want to do is to get angry,” said the retired firefighter, who finally managed to speak to the medical examiner to get the paperwork signed off.
His mother’s death was registered at Bleneau Gwent Register Office on January 20 allowing Mr Nesbitt to start planning the funeral which took place on February 7 – over a month after her death.
“If I hadn’t pushed it, it would have been another week or two weeks,” said the father of two.
“Why on earth did it take so long to do and why did I have to shout at them to get them to do it? I couldn’t go and see her in the chapel of rest because the undertaker advised me not to.”
Mr Nesbitt last saw his mother a few days before Christmas.
“I ended up with bronchitis, so I couldn’t go to the hospital, so I never saw her.”
What are the changes to the death certificate process?
GPs were previously able to issue a death certificate independently. Now a GP completes a Medical Cause of Death Certificate which is reviewed independently by a medical examiner.
During this scrutiny, medical examiners speak to bereaved families and offer the opportunity to ask questions. Once the MCCD has been approved, it is sent to the registrar so the death can be registered.
The UK government says this helps protect the public by providing greater transparency and an extra level of scrutiny so preventing criminal activity.
‘It takes choice away from the family’
“It’s a very big issue”, said Kevin Evans, of funeral directors, Lawrence Prosser and Sons.
“We’re having awful trouble with it.”
He said getting a death registered used to take a “couple of days”.
The Medical Examiner Service for Wales’s website says scrutiny process should take between 24 and 72 hours after they receive the relevant paperwork.
Mark Ivor Thomas, company director of Ivor Thomas Funerals, said delays have put an extra strain on the grieving process.
“I think it takes choice away from the family, because if a family think ‘I need this done to be able to help move on or to help with the grieving process’, well, if you are forced to wait for five weeks for the funeral to take place, then that option is taken away from you,” he said.
Mr Ivor Thomas said the delays also have a cross-cultural impact. For instance, in Judaism and Islam, funerals are usually held within a day of the person’s death.
“Every family works at a different pace. We had a funeral with a cultural need for it to be taken place quickly. We couldn’t book the funeral in until we had all the paperwork.
“Instead of taking place the same week they’ve been taking two and a half weeks.”
“I understand why people want two or three weeks, because it helps them with the process, helps them get the funeral right for them. But then, what if it goes too far? Without the family choice in it, then it can be quite destructive,” said Mr Ivor Thomas.
The 36-year-old said the reasons for the reforms were for the best but the system was not currently working.
“I’m not quite sure what needs to change behind the scenes for it to be done, but it it’s not worth the additional time it is taking for the benefits.”
‘Total lack of ownership’
The Welsh Government 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 have taken some time to fully bed in.
“We are working with the lead Medical Examiner, the NHS in Wales and other organisations involved in death certification to provide additional support. Recent ONS data show the time to registering a death is reducing but we are continuing to work with the sector to support families during this difficult time.”
The Medical Examiner Service Regional Hub Office in South East Wales declined an opportunity to comment.
“Nobody’s taking ownership”, said Mr Nesbitt.
“Frustrating is the biggest word and seeing a total lack of ownership from people who are supposed to do their job.
“The law was changed allegedly to assist the process – but it’s done the opposite in my opinion.”
