26: GP+ Medical Examiner with Dr Justine De Mink

In this episode of the GP+ Careers series, host Sophie explores the medical examiner role with Bristol based GP partner Dr Justine De Mink. Now a statutory requirement in England and Wales, this position involves scrutinizing deaths to improve certification accuracy and provide an independent voice for families. Justine explains how the role offers vital clinical governance while impacting public health data and service funding. Discover the entry pathway, including 26 mandatory e-learning modules and specialised training for this "intellectually satisfying" addition to a portfolio career. RCGP Podcast Feedback Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Top Tips

Complete mandatory training: You must complete 26 e-learning modules on the e-Learning for Health platform before applying for a post. These modules are legislation heavy and do not have an exit exam, but they are prerequisites for most posts. Additionally, you will need to attend a one-day virtual training event delivered by the Royal College of Pathologists

Reach out locally: Before committing to hours of study, email ahead and arrange to have an informal meeting with the lead medical examiner for your area or ICB. You can demonstrate your interest in the role, and they can advise on upcoming vacancies, as turnover in these roles can be low due to their popularity.

Get a feel for the office: Consider spending an hour or two in a medical examiner’s office to understand the workflow and the specific IT systems used in your region.

Assess your career priorities: This role is focused on clinical governance rather than direct patient care or clinical decision-making. If your main professional satisfaction comes from direct patient interaction, this role may not be the right fit.

Prepare for a shift in focus: This role is entirely about clinical governance and does not involve direct patient care unlike the 'typical' GP role. It focuses on improving the accuracy of death certification, providing a voice for bereaved families, and identifying safety concerns for the coroner. If your primary professional satisfaction comes from clinical decision making or patient interaction, this may not be the right fit.

Embrace the virtual MDT: While the work can be solitary, you are part of a broader team including medical examiner officers and doctors from various specialties like ITU, oncology, and palliative care. Justine highlights the value of this "collegiate way of working" and the ability to learn from specialists outside of general practice.

Expect seasonal fluctuations: Recognise that while the work can be repetitive during peak winter months due to higher death rates caused by respiratory illness, it often provides a "relative calm" compared to the high-pressure environment of daily general practice.

Further reading

National Medical Examiners guidance: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-medical-examiners-guidance-for-england-and-wales/

The Royal College of Pathologist (RCPath) website: https://www.rcpath.org/profession/medical-examiners.html

e-learning for health (e-Lfh) website: https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/391356

Office of National Statistics (ONS): https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths

Local Integrated Care Board (ICB) websites: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/find-your-local-integrated-care-board/

RCGP Mentoring: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring

Dr Justine de Mink is a GP partner and Medical Examiner in Bristol. She graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1998. She has been working in the NHS since 2002. She qualified as a GP in 2009 and has been a partner in an urban area of Bristol since 2011. She has been a Medical Examiner since 2022.