Skip to main content

The role of the medical examiner

An image of purple flowers and a purple butterfly.

In line with new government requirements, Swansea Bay University Health Board is working closely with the Medical Examiner Service. The medical examiner is a senior doctor not involved in the care of the patient, who provides an independent scrutiny of each death. This service allows the cause of death to be more accurately identified, and the circumstances surrounding the death to be more objectively assessed.

The medical examiner has a team of medical examiner officers, who will contact you in the days following the death of your relative/friend. They will discuss with you the cause of death, and listen to your views on the care provided. They can answer any questions you may have about the cause of death and the circumstances of the death.

Once this discussion has taken place, the medical examiner will liaise with the doctor and the Care After Death Team to issue the Medical Cause of Death Certificate to the registrar, and you will be able to register the death of your relative/friend.

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.

We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.