Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people who die during the covid-19 outbreak and have underlying conditions as a result of (a) pneumoconiosis, (b) silicosis, (c) chronic bronchitis, (d) asbestosis and (e) other industrial diseases have their underlying cause of death recorded on their death certificate.

In response to the provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020 in relation to death certification, General Registers Office/Home Office and Office for National Statistics published revised guidance to medical practitioners completing medical certificates cause of death (MCCD) for a period of emergency. Medical practitioners are expected to state the cause of death to the best of their knowledge and belief. This guidance confirms that COVID-19 is an acceptable direct or underlying cause of death for the purposes of completing the MCCD. The notification of death regulations 2019, 3(1)(ix) includes the requirement of notification to the coroner if the registered medical practitioner suspects that that the person’s death was due to an injury or disease attributable to any employment held by the person during the person’s lifetime.