Why is everyone so incompetent these days?

uktim29

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

Im sure there are more important things in the NHS than dealing with the already deceased and thus it may see small delays

I was going to write something like that or something very similar but knew how it would go down.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

uktim29 wrote: »

I was going to write something like that or something very similar but knew how it would go down.

Its perfectly true

As much sympathy as I have, I do think the doctors are better off filling in paperwork re the living, prescriptions and referral notes before signing death certificates simply because I would say the former are more important

uktim29

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

Its perfectly true

As much sympathy as I have, I do think the doctors are better off filling in paperwork re the living, prescriptions and referral notes before signing death certificates simply because I would say the former are more important

I agree, when the op was talking about prioritizing I do agree with you.

Also using terms such as "non jobs", how do you actually know this? You can't just assume you'd have to do a job first to know whether it's needed. Through cut backs whether it's government funded or a business relying on consumer spending most jobs which aren't needed in many areas have gone now.

GrannyKate

Pennywise - my sincere sympathies on your loss - I know from personal experience how hard the formal process can be when you just want to get evrything organised and the funeral arranged and you are already very upset.

Can I just defend the NHS - I have dealt with similar delays as part of my work as an NHS manager and it may be helpful to explain. Hospitals do not ' decide' to do post mortems but they may ask the family if they would like one to find out more about the illness or condition or to further knowledge on the patients condition. If they are not certain of the cause of death and feel unable to write a certificate immediately (which must include the actual reason for the death and any underlying contributory factors) then the case must be referred to the coroner. From that point the hospital can do nothing until instructed by the coroner who in effect now 'owns' the body until it is released back to the family. As you have mentioned 4 days before 'they' made a decision I think you are likely to be talking about the coroner and not the doctors. A coroner can order a post mortem and does not need any consent to do so. It might be that the coroner wanted to read the medical records or consult with the patient's consultant before making a decision.

If there is then no PM or inquest, the death certficate must still be written by someone who has sufficient involvement in the patient's care and treatment to make an informed statement on the immediate and actual cause of death and any contributing factors. This is a very serious legal document not just a formality on a piece of paper. It might be that the relevant doctor was now on days off, away lecturing or training etc. You can get any qualified professional to certify death (the actual cessation of life) but they cannot just then sign the paperwork for the certificate or provide the detailed causes unless they have treated the patient themselves in the recent period.

It is important for deaths to be registered within a prescribed period but Registrars are familiar with the dilemmas that sometimes lead to delays and the reasons for this. They like to be informed in advance if there is likely to be a delay over the prescribed period. Undertakers will also usually be prepared to start making arrangements for a funeral without the forms from the hospital even though they know they cannot collect the body until the papers are issued.

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Re 2 signatures for cremation - think Dr Harold Shipman before deriding this practice. It may seem to be 'money for old rope' but cremation destroys most evidence of foul play.

Just trying to explain processes here but understand how stressful this all is for the family concerned.