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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Registered Nurse Verification of Expected Adult Death Policy

1. Introduction and Purpose

{{org_field_name}} is committed to ensuring that the verification of an expected adult death is undertaken safely, promptly, compassionately and with respect for the dignity, cultural identity, religious beliefs and previously expressed wishes of the deceased person.

This policy sets out the circumstances in which a registered nurse employed or engaged by {{org_field_name}} may verify an expected adult death in a person’s own home. It describes the required authorisation, competence, clinical assessment, documentation, communication, escalation and governance arrangements.

Verification of death means the clinical confirmation that life has ceased. It is separate from certification of the medical cause of death. A registered nurse may verify death when authorised and competent to do so but must not complete a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death unless separately legally entitled to do so as a registered medical practitioner.

This policy must be read alongside the organisation’s policies on:

• end-of-life care;
• cardiopulmonary resuscitation and DNACPR decisions;
• deteriorating service users and emergency escalation;
• care after death;
• incident reporting;
• safeguarding;
• medicines management;
• infection prevention and control;
• confidentiality and information governance;
• CQC statutory notifications; and
• duty of candour.

The policy supports compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, applicable coronial and death certification legislation, the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code and current national and local clinical guidance.

2. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to registered nurses employed or formally engaged by {{org_field_name}} who:

• hold current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council;
• have completed approved education and practical competency assessment in verification of expected adult death;
• have been formally authorised by {{org_field_name}} to undertake the procedure;
• are working within the limits of their professional competence;
• have access to the necessary clinical information and equipment; and
• are acting in accordance with the relevant local integrated care board, NHS, primary care, palliative care and medical examiner arrangements.

This policy applies only to adults aged 18 years or over whose death is expected from a diagnosed and documented medical condition and where an appropriate clinician-led plan is in place.

This policy does not authorise registered nurses to:

• certify the medical cause of death;
• complete or sign a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death;
• decide that a death should not be reported to the coroner;
• verify an unexpected, unexplained, suspicious, traumatic or apparently unnatural death;
• verify the death of a child or young person under 18 years of age under this policy;
• pronounce death remotely unless this is expressly permitted by a separate lawful local pathway;
• undertake verification where they do not feel competent, appropriately authorised or able to complete the assessment safely.

Where a death falls outside this policy, the registered nurse must follow the emergency, police, safeguarding, medical examiner and coroner escalation arrangements described in this policy.

3. Definitions

3.1 Expected death

An expected death is a death which occurs as a foreseeable consequence of a diagnosed illness or medical condition and which has been anticipated and documented by an appropriate registered medical practitioner or other responsible clinician acting within an agreed local pathway.

The record should demonstrate that:

• the person is approaching the end of life;
• the clinical condition likely to result in death is documented;
• deterioration and expected death have been discussed and communicated appropriately;
• an individualised plan is available for care at the end of life;
• appropriate contact and escalation arrangements are recorded; and
• any decision about cardiopulmonary resuscitation is clearly documented where such a decision has been made.

Advanced age, frailty or residence in a person’s own home must not, by themselves, be treated as sufficient evidence that a death is expected.

3.2 Verification of death

Verification of death is the clinical process of establishing that a person has died by confirming the irreversible absence of signs of life in accordance with current professional guidance and the nurse’s assessed competence.

3.3 Certification of death

Certification of death is the statutory process of identifying and formally recording the medical cause of death. Verification by a registered nurse does not replace medical certification, medical examiner scrutiny, registration of the death or referral to the coroner where required.

3.4 Unexpected or unexplained death

An unexpected or unexplained death includes a death which:

• was not anticipated or documented;
• occurred following an unexpected deterioration;
• may be related to an accident, injury, fall, choking episode, poisoning, overdose, medication error, neglect, abuse or self-harm;
• has an unknown or unclear cause;
• occurred in unusual or suspicious circumstances;
• may have resulted from an act or omission in the provision of care;
• occurred during or shortly after a procedure or treatment where concerns exist;
• involves signs of trauma or disturbance of the environment; or
• does not correspond with the documented expected death plan.

4. Legal, Regulatory and Professional Framework

This policy is informed by the following legislation, regulations and professional requirements, as amended from time to time:

• Health and Social Care Act 2008;
• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, including:
  • Regulation 9: Person-centred care;
  • Regulation 10: Dignity and respect;
  • Regulation 11: Need for consent;
  • Regulation 12: Safe care and treatment;
  • Regulation 13: Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment;
  • Regulation 17: Good governance;
  • Regulation 18: Staffing;
  • Regulation 20: Duty of candour, where applicable;
• Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, including Regulation 16 concerning notification of the death of a person using the service;
• Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice;
• Coroners and Justice Act 2009;
• Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019, as amended;
• Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 and current death certification requirements;
• Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation in relation to information concerning living individuals;
• Access to Health Records Act 1990, where applicable;
• Human Rights Act 1998;
• Equality Act 2010;
• current Nursing and Midwifery Council Code;
• current national medical examiner guidance;
• current professional guidance on registered nurse verification of expected adult death; and
• applicable local NHS, integrated care board, medical examiner, police and coroner protocols.

Registered nurses must practise within the limits of their competence, preserve safety, keep clear and accurate records, communicate effectively and remain professionally accountable for their decisions and actions.

The registered manager is responsible for ensuring that this policy is consistent with local commissioning, primary care, palliative care, medical examiner and coroner arrangements.

5. Responsibilities

5.1 Registered provider and registered manager

The registered provider and registered manager must ensure that:

• nurse verification is included within the service’s registered activities, insurance and clinical governance arrangements;
• a current local agreement or pathway is in place with relevant healthcare partners;
• only authorised and competent registered nurses undertake verification;
• sufficient staff, equipment, clinical information and out-of-hours support are available;
• nurses have access to the person’s current care plan, expected death documentation and escalation contacts;
• competency records and authorisation lists are maintained;
• verification records are audited;
• deaths and concerns are reported and notified appropriately;
• learning is identified and acted upon;
• nurses receive support following difficult or distressing deaths.

5.2 Registered nurse

The registered nurse undertaking verification is responsible for:

• confirming that the death falls within the scope of this policy;
• checking their own authorisation and competence;
• reviewing the available clinical documentation;
• establishing whether the death remains expected;
• undertaking and documenting the clinical assessment;
• escalating any uncertainty or concern;
• maintaining the dignity of the deceased;
• communicating sensitively with relatives and representatives;
• notifying the appropriate manager and healthcare professionals;
• completing all required records before the end of the shift, unless exceptional circumstances are documented.

5.3 Care workers

Care workers who find a person apparently deceased must not verify death. They must follow the person’s end-of-life plan and the organisation’s emergency escalation procedure, contact the appropriate registered nurse or healthcare professional and preserve the person’s dignity.

Care workers must not move the person, remove clinical devices, dispose of medicines or disturb the environment where the death is unexpected, unexplained or suspicious, unless movement is necessary to attempt resuscitation or prevent immediate harm.

6. Conditions for Registered Nurse Verification

A registered nurse may verify an expected adult death only when all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• the person is aged 18 years or over;
• the death occurred in a setting covered by this policy;
• the person has a diagnosed condition from which death has been anticipated;
• the expected nature of the death is clearly documented by an appropriate responsible clinician;
• the circumstances observed are consistent with the recorded diagnosis, prognosis and end-of-life plan;
• there are no suspicious, traumatic, unexplained or safeguarding concerns;
• there is no reason to believe that the death may require immediate police or coroner involvement;
• the nurse has sufficient information to make a safe decision;
• the nurse is currently registered, trained, assessed as competent and authorised by {{org_field_name}};
• verification is permitted by the applicable local pathway;
• the nurse is physically present with the person;
• the nurse has appropriate equipment and can undertake the assessment safely.

An individualised advance care plan, ReSPECT recommendation or DNACPR decision should be available where one has been made. However, the absence of a DNACPR form must not be described as automatically preventing verification after death has been established.

The absence of a DNACPR decision must not be treated as permission to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation from a person who may still be alive. Where there is any possibility that the person may be alive, or where death was not expected, the nurse must follow current basic life support and emergency escalation procedures unless there are unequivocal signs of irreversible death or another lawful clinical basis for not starting resuscitation.

The nurse must decline to undertake verification and seek assistance where:

• they are uncertain whether the death is expected;
• clinical information is absent, incomplete or inconsistent;
• the person’s identity cannot be reliably confirmed;
• signs of life are present or the findings are equivocal;
• the death may be related to trauma, abuse, neglect, medication, equipment failure or care provision;
• environmental or personal safety risks prevent an adequate assessment;
• they have not maintained competence;
• the situation falls outside the local verification pathway.

7. Immediate Actions When a Person Is Found Unresponsive

The person discovering the service user must:

• assess immediate safety;
• summon appropriate assistance;
• establish whether the person is responsive and breathing normally;
• follow the person’s documented emergency and resuscitation plan;
• call 999 where the death is not clearly expected, where there is uncertainty, where signs of life may be present or where emergency assistance is otherwise required;
• record the time the person was found;
• avoid stating that the person has died until verification has been completed by an appropriately qualified professional.

Where the death is expected, the registered nurse must review the relevant records before beginning verification wherever practicable. The nurse must establish:

• the person’s identity;
• the diagnosis and documented reason that death was expected;
• when the person was last seen or known to be alive;
• the circumstances in which the person was found;
• whether a DNACPR or ReSPECT document exists;
• whether any accident, fall, injury, choking, medication issue or other incident occurred;
• whether any safeguarding concern exists;
• who must be contacted under the individualised plan.

8. Procedure for Verifying an Expected Death

The process of verifying an expected death involves several critical steps to ensure that life has ceased, documentation is accurate, and the family is supported.

8.1 Preparation and Identity Checks

The registered nurse must introduce themselves to relatives or others present, explain their role and explain that verification confirms that the person has died but does not certify the medical cause of death.

The nurse must confirm the person’s identity using at least two reliable identifiers, wherever available, such as:

• full name;
• date of birth;
• NHS number;
• address;
• photograph or identity record;
• confirmation from a person who knows the deceased.

The nurse must review the expected death documentation and assess whether the observed circumstances remain consistent with an expected natural death.

The nurse must ensure privacy and dignity while avoiding unnecessary alteration of the person’s position, clothing, clinical devices or surroundings until it is clear that police or coroner involvement is not required.

Appropriate infection prevention precautions must be used. The nurse must consider risks from infection, implanted devices, oxygen, sharps, hazardous medicines, body fluids and environmental hazards.

8.2 Clinical Verification Assessment

The registered nurse must undertake the verification assessment in accordance with their approved training, competency assessment and the current locally adopted professional protocol.

The assessment must include confirmation of all of the following:

• there is no response to verbal stimulation;
• there is no response to an appropriate physical or central stimulus;
• there is no spontaneous respiratory effort during the prescribed continuous observation period;
• there are no heart sounds on auscultation during the prescribed assessment period;
• there is no palpable central pulse during the prescribed assessment period;
• the pupils are fixed and do not respond to light;
• there are no other signs of life.

The nurse must use a timing device and must observe for the full period required by the organisation’s approved clinical protocol. The required observation periods must not be shortened.

Any equipment used must be appropriate, clean, functional and used within the nurse’s competence.

Where any sign of life is detected, where findings are equivocal or where the nurse is unable to complete the assessment, the nurse must:

• stop the verification procedure;
• call 999 or obtain urgent clinical assistance;
• initiate appropriate emergency action in accordance with the person’s resuscitation status and the clinical circumstances;
• remain with the person;
• document the findings and actions taken;
• notify the registered manager or on-call manager.

The nurse must not rely on a single clinical sign to verify death.

8.3 Circumstances Requiring Immediate Escalation

The death must be treated as unexpected, unexplained or potentially reportable where any of the following applies:

• the expected death documentation is absent, unclear or inconsistent;
• the death occurred sooner or differently than anticipated and there is clinical concern;
• the person may have suffered a fall, injury, choking episode, poisoning, overdose or medication-related event;
• there are signs of trauma, unexplained bruising, burns, bleeding or disturbance;
• there are concerns about abuse, neglect, self-neglect, self-harm or a criminal act;
• the person died during or following restraint;
• the person died during or shortly after a procedure, treatment or medication administration and a connection cannot be excluded;
• equipment, oxygen, a medical device or care intervention may have contributed;
• the identity of the deceased is uncertain;
• there is no registered medical practitioner able to establish a cause of death;
• the death may be work-related or associated with an infectious disease requiring notification;
• the nurse has any doubt about whether the death is natural and expected.

In these circumstances, the nurse must follow local procedures for contacting emergency services, police, the responsible medical practitioner, the medical examiner service, safeguarding services and senior management.

The nurse must not:

• wash or prepare the body;
• remove lines, tubes, catheters, dressings or medical devices;
• remove or discard medicines, medication packaging or equipment;
• move items in the immediate environment;
• allow the body to be removed;

unless authorised by the police, coroner, medical examiner or another person acting under the applicable local pathway, or unless action is necessary to preserve life or prevent immediate danger.

8.4 Documentation

The registered nurse must make an accurate, complete, legible and contemporaneous record of:

• the deceased person’s full name, date of birth, NHS number where known and address;
• the date, time and place at which the person was found;
• the name and role of the person who found them;
• the time the person was last seen or known to be alive, where known;
• whether death was witnessed and, if so, by whom;
• the clinical diagnosis and documentation supporting the conclusion that death was expected;
• the resuscitation decision or recommendation available, where applicable;
• the nurse’s identity, NMC PIN, role and signature or secure electronic authentication;
• the date and exact time verification was completed;
• each clinical sign assessed, the assessment period and the findings;
• any relevant environmental or clinical observations;
• whether any invasive devices or implanted devices were present;
• whether there were any concerns requiring escalation;
• the names, roles and contact times of all persons notified;
• information and support provided to relatives or representatives;
• instructions received from the GP, attending practitioner, medical examiner, police, coroner or manager;
• details of care provided after death;
• whether a CQC notification, safeguarding referral, incident report or duty of candour process was considered or initiated.

The nurse must clearly distinguish between:

• the time the person was found;
• the time the person was last known to be alive;
• the time verification was completed; and
• the time of death, but only where the death was witnessed and the time is reliably known.

The time of verification must not automatically be recorded as the time of death.

All documentation must be completed as soon as practicable and before the end of the nurse’s shift unless exceptional circumstances prevent this. Any late entry must be clearly identified, dated, timed and explained.

8.5 Notification Following Verification

Following verification, the registered nurse must notify, in accordance with the individualised plan and local pathway:

• the person’s GP or attending practitioner;
• the relevant out-of-hours clinical service where applicable;
• the medical examiner service through the agreed route;
• the registered manager or on-call manager;
• the person’s representative, next of kin or nominated contact, unless already present or unless there is a documented reason not to do so;
• the district nursing, hospice or specialist palliative care service where applicable;
• the funeral director only when authorised by the family or representative and where release of the body is permitted.

The nurse must not routinely state that they will arrange the death certificate. The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is completed through the attending practitioner and medical examiner process, or the death is referred to the coroner.

Since 9 September 2024, deaths which are not investigated by a coroner are subject to independent medical examiner scrutiny before registration.

9. Supporting Relatives, Representatives and Others

The registered nurse must communicate sensitively, honestly and in a manner suited to the communication needs of the people present.

The nurse should:

• explain that verification confirms that the person has died;
• avoid giving an opinion about the medical cause of death;
• explain that the attending practitioner and medical examiner will manage the certification process unless the death is referred to the coroner;
• explain that the medical examiner’s office may contact the bereaved person and provide an opportunity to raise questions or concerns;
• provide information about what will happen next;
• respect cultural, spiritual and religious practices where these can be accommodated safely and lawfully;
• provide privacy and reasonable time with the deceased;
• offer access to interpreting, advocacy or accessible communication support where required;
• provide information about bereavement support and practical services;
• document significant questions, concerns or complaints raised by relatives.

Where a relative raises concern about the care provided, the nurse must record the concern accurately and escalate it to the registered manager. The concern must be considered under the complaints, incident, safeguarding and duty of candour procedures as appropriate.

No person should be described as “next of kin” as though this automatically gives them legal decision-making authority. The nurse should identify the person’s nominated contact, personal representative, attorney, deputy or other relevant representative according to the circumstances.

10. Care After Death

Care after death must be provided respectfully and in accordance with the person’s known wishes, cultural and religious requirements, infection prevention measures and local care-after-death procedures.

Before commencing care after death, staff must confirm that:

• verification has been completed;
• there is no requirement to preserve the body or environment for police or coroner investigation;
• removal of lines, tubes or equipment has been authorised where required;
• relevant clinical, infection and implanted-device information has been communicated.

Staff must:

• maintain the deceased person’s privacy and dignity;
• use appropriate personal protective equipment;
• manage leakage, wounds and devices in accordance with approved procedures;
• accurately identify the deceased;
• account for property, valuables, medicines and documents;
• avoid removing implanted devices;
• inform the funeral director of known infection risks and implanted devices through the approved communication process;
• document all care provided.

Staff must not remove a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator or other implanted device. Removal must be undertaken only by an appropriately authorised and competent person.

11. Medicines, Controlled Drugs, Equipment and Property

Following a death, medicines prescribed for the deceased must be secured and handled in accordance with the organisation’s medicines policy, pharmacy requirements and applicable law.

Staff must not:

• give the deceased person’s medicines to another person;
• dispose of medicines without appropriate authority;
• remove medicines relevant to a potential investigation;
• destroy controlled drugs outside the authorised process.

Where the death is unexpected, suspicious or may be related to medicines, all medicines, administration records, packaging, syringes, transdermal patches, pumps and associated equipment must be preserved and made available to the investigating authority.

Property and valuables must be recorded, secured and transferred using the organisation’s property procedure. Where the person died in their own home, staff must not assume authority over property belonging to the deceased or their estate.

12. Training, Competency and Authorisation

Only registered nurses who have successfully completed approved training and competency assessment may verify an expected adult death on behalf of {{org_field_name}}.

Training must include:

• the distinction between verification, certification, medical examiner scrutiny and registration;
• recognition of expected and unexpected death;
• cardiopulmonary resuscitation and DNACPR or ReSPECT principles;
• clinical verification assessment;
• use of equipment;
• record keeping;
• coroner, police and medical examiner escalation;
• safeguarding and evidence preservation;
• infection prevention;
• care after death;
• communication with bereaved people;
• cultural, spiritual and equality considerations;
• staff wellbeing and reflective practice.

Competence must be demonstrated through:

• theoretical assessment;
• supervised practice or simulation appropriate to the local framework;
• direct observation or another validated competency assessment;
• completion of the organisation’s competency document;
• formal authorisation by a designated clinical lead.

Competence and authorisation must be reviewed:

• at intervals determined by the provider’s risk assessment and local framework;
• during annual appraisal or clinical review;
• following an incident, complaint or identified practice concern;
• following a prolonged period without undertaking verification;
• when relevant guidance, legislation or local procedures change;
• whenever the nurse or manager identifies a need for reassessment.

The policy must not imply that annual competency assessment is a universal statutory requirement. The organisation must instead define and document a proportionate reassessment frequency based on risk, professional guidance and local arrangements.

A nurse must not undertake verification where they believe their competence is no longer current.

13. Incident Reporting, Safeguarding and Duty of Candour

An internal incident report must be completed where:

• the death was unexpected, unexplained or suspicious;
• care, treatment, medicines, equipment or an omission may have caused or contributed to the death;
• the expected death pathway was absent or not followed;
• there was a delay in escalation or verification;
• resuscitation arrangements were unclear or not followed;
• incorrect identification or documentation occurred;
• relatives raised a significant concern;
• there was a safeguarding concern;
• the nurse was unable to complete the procedure safely;
• the registered manager considers that learning or investigation is required.

The registered manager must consider whether the circumstances require:

• safeguarding referral;
• police involvement;
• coroner notification through the appropriate professional route;
• CQC statutory notification;
• notification to the commissioner;
• notification to the Health and Safety Executive;
• reporting through the organisation’s patient safety or incident system;
• duty of candour action;
• referral to a professional regulator;
• preservation of records, medicines, devices and other evidence.

The existence of a DNACPR decision must not prevent investigation of concerns about the care provided before death.

14. CQC Statutory Notification

The registered manager or authorised person must consider whether the death must be notified to the Care Quality Commission under Regulation 16 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009.

CQC must be notified without delay where:

• the person died while a regulated activity was being provided; or
• the death may have resulted from the regulated activity or the way in which it was provided.

The responsible manager must use the current CQC notification process and retain evidence that the notification was submitted.

The registered nurse must immediately inform the registered manager or on-call manager of any death that may meet the notification threshold. The nurse is not responsible for making the final regulatory determination unless this responsibility has been formally delegated.

A CQC death notification does not replace any requirement to contact the police, coroner, medical examiner, safeguarding authority, commissioner or other body.

15. Confidentiality, Information Governance and Records

Information concerning the deceased must continue to be treated respectfully, confidentially and securely.

Although UK data protection legislation generally applies to identifiable living individuals rather than to the deceased person, records concerning a death may contain personal data about relatives, staff and other living individuals. Duties of confidentiality may also continue after death.

Records must be:

• accurate, complete and contemporaneous;
• stored securely;
• accessible only to authorised persons;
• disclosed only where there is a lawful and appropriate basis;
• retained in accordance with the organisation’s record retention schedule and applicable health and social care records guidance;
• preserved where an investigation, complaint, inquest, claim or regulatory process is anticipated.

Requests for access to records following death must be referred to the organisation’s information governance lead and handled under the applicable legal framework, including the Access to Health Records Act 1990 where relevant.

Staff must not share information with relatives merely because they describe themselves as “next of kin”. The identity, authority and lawful basis for disclosure must be established.

Any actual or suspected confidentiality or information security breach must be reported immediately under the organisation’s data breach procedure.

16. Monitoring, Audit and Quality Improvement

The registered manager and clinical lead must monitor implementation of this policy through regular audit.

Audit activity should include:

• confirmation that nurses were trained, competent and authorised;
• evidence that the death met the expected death criteria;
• completion of all required clinical observations;
• accuracy of dates and times;
• clear distinction between time found, time last known alive, time verified and time of death where known;
• appropriate escalation and communication;
• CQC notification decisions;
• medical examiner and coroner referrals;
• care after death;
• concerns raised by relatives;
• incidents, complaints and safeguarding referrals;
• timeliness and quality of records;
• staff support and learning.

Audit findings must be reported through the organisation’s governance arrangements. Action plans must identify responsible persons, completion dates and evidence that improvement has been sustained.

Learning from deaths must be shared appropriately while maintaining confidentiality.

17. Equality, Human Rights and Cultural Requirements

The service must ensure that verification and care after death are provided without unlawful discrimination and with due regard to the person’s protected characteristics, human rights, communication needs, religion, belief, culture, sex, gender identity and family relationships.

Reasonable steps must be taken to identify and respect wishes concerning:

• who should be present or informed;
• spiritual or religious support;
• positioning and handling of the body;
• washing or touching the body;
• clothing and personal items;
• urgency of burial or other funeral arrangements;
• communication and interpreting requirements.

Cultural or religious practices must be facilitated wherever they are safe, lawful and do not interfere with police, coroner or medical examiner requirements.

18. Staff Support

Managers must recognise that attending and verifying a death can be emotionally demanding.

Registered nurses and other staff must have access to:

• debriefing following a difficult death;
• clinical supervision;
• reflective practice;
• occupational health or employee assistance support;
• additional support following traumatic, suspicious or distressing circumstances.

A factual debrief must not replace a formal investigation where one is required.

19. Conclusion

Verification of an expected adult death is a significant clinical responsibility. It may be undertaken only by a registered nurse who is appropriately trained, assessed as competent, authorised and acting within an agreed local pathway.

The registered nurse must distinguish verification from medical certification, complete a systematic clinical assessment, maintain accurate records, preserve dignity, communicate sensitively and escalate any uncertainty or concern.

{{org_field_name}} will maintain governance, training, audit, incident reporting and notification arrangements to ensure that verification of expected adult death is safe, lawful and consistent with current regulatory and professional standards.

20. References and Associated Guidance

The current versions of the following must be consulted when this policy is reviewed:

• Care Quality Commission guidance on Regulations 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18 and 20;
• Care Quality Commission guidance on statutory notification of deaths;
• Nursing and Midwifery Council, The Code;
• Royal College of Nursing guidance on confirmation or verification of death by registered nurses;
• current Registered Nurse Verification of Expected Adult Death guidance and competency framework;
• NHS England national medical examiner guidance;
• Department of Health and Social Care guidance on death certification reforms;
• Notification of Deaths Regulations guidance;
• Resuscitation Council UK guidelines;
• applicable local integrated care board, GP, palliative care, medical examiner, coroner and police protocols.

21. Policy Review

This policy must be reviewed at least annually and sooner where:

the scope of the service changes.

legislation or CQC requirements change;

national professional guidance changes;

the local medical examiner or coroner pathway changes;

a serious incident, complaint or audit identifies a need for amendment;

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.