Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many death certificates have been authorised in the community since 1 March 2020 without the physical presence of a GP; how many of those deaths were attributed to covid-19; what assessment he has made of the potential under-reporting of deaths in the community from covid-19 as the result of GPs not being present to issue death certificates; and if he will make a statement.
General practitioners do not issue death certificates. Death certificates are issued by registrars. Medical practitioners complete Medical Certificates of Cause of Death.