Cremation form fees abolished in Scotland
Bereaved relatives in Scotland will no longer have to pay fees to medical referees in order to have a deceased person cremated, under a new system of death certification that has just come into effect.
Under the Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011, the quality and accuracy of death certificates will be improved, providing a better understanding of the actual causes of death, and potentially benefiting families where a health condition runs in the family.
About 10% of death certificates will be selected at random and reviewed to ensure that information has been completed correctly. Relatives also now have the right to request a review of the information on the certificate if they have any concerns. Reviews will be carried out by an independent team at Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
Carried out by a team of experienced and trained doctors, are designed to monitor the process and improve the accuracy of death certificates, as well as providing information that will enable health services to plan for the future. In most cases the medical reviewer will check the death certificate and speak to the certifying doctor, but in a smaller number they will aos check relevant medical records.
The aim of the reviews is to be clear on what caused the death, rather than looking at the medical care that was given to the deceased.
Assistance with post-mortem examinations will also be provided to bereaved families dealing with a death that has happened abroad. Families will be able to apply for assistance, including financial assistance, to arrange for a post-mortem.
Abolishing the medical referee fees is expected to save families about £170 for each cremation.
It is also now a requirement that all deaths must be registered before a body is buried or cremated. Previously, a burial could take place before the death was registered. However there is provision for someone to request advance registration if they need a funeral to take place within a certain timescale (for example for religious/cultural reasons).
Healthcare Improvement Scotland senior medical reviewer Dr George Fernie commented: “I believe that this new service provides a fair and proportionate approach which will lead to improvements in how we currently record information about deaths in Scotland. These reviews will provide NHSScotland with more accurate information which will help healthcare providers to plan services in the most effective way. Our reviews will also help the bereaved by providing greater assurance that the cause of death of their loved one has been accurately recorded.”
Click here for more information about the death certification review service.