GP Medical Examiners (Secondment Opportunity) - Department of Health
DoH
Applications will close on 19th June 2026 at 15:00
Secondment Opportunities: Independent Medical Examiners (IMEs)
The Department of Health (DoH) is offering a number of secondment opportunities for Independent Medical Examiners. These roles are open to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria outlined below. It is anticipated that the secondments will initially run until 31 March 2027, with the possibility of extension.
These positions are offered on a part-time basis to senior doctors and General Practitioners, with the option of undertaking 1 or 2 PAs/sessions per week. This arrangement is intended to provide flexibility and enable successful candidates to maintain their existing professional commitments.
This competition may be used to fill additional IME vacancies that arise within the next 12 months.
Overview
The DoH is seeking to recruit senior doctors and GPs to support the development of an Independent Medical Examiner (IME) Service prototype. This prototype will inform and shape policy proposals for the future introduction of a statutory IME Service for Northern Ireland, as recommended in the Dame Janet Smith (Shipman) Inquiry and the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia-Related Deaths.
The purpose of an Independent Medical Examiner Service is to provide independent oversight and safeguards in the scrutiny of non‑coronial deaths.
IME responsibilities will include:
Reviewing medical records relating to deceased patients
Discussing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) with the certifying doctor
Ensuring appropriate referral of deaths to the Coroner
Person Specification and Application Form
For more information about this role you can contact:
Dr Brian McCloskey (Senior Medical Officer for the Independent Medical Examiner Service)
Contact email: brian.mccloskey@health-ni.gov.uk.
If you wish to be considered, please complete the application form below and submit it by email to IMERecruitment@health-ni.gov.uk by 15:00 on Friday 19th June 2026