Reforms brought in this week to expedite the post-death process, potentially enabling quicker burials, have been welcomed by the Jewish community.

Previously, doctors could only issue a medical certificate cause of death (MCCD) if they had attended the deceased within 28 days prior to death.

The new reforms, brought in by the department of health and social care, will allow medical practitioners to complete this certificate if they have attended the deceased “in their lifetime”, proposing a cause of death “to the best of their knowledge and belief”.

This change will benefit both the Jewish and Muslim communities as they prioritise prompt burials. In Judaism, burials are encouraged to take place within 24 hours of death.

Welcoming the news, a spokesperson from the Board of Deputies said: “The guidance itself does not affect the speed of release. However, the previous 28-day rule may have caused delay [ of release of the body] for deaths which occurred at home.

"Many elderly deceased people have a chronic illness and may not have seen a doctor 28 days before their death but received other medical support from a nurse or a health visitor. Due to the changes, medical practitioners who have cared for the patients and/or are familiar with their medical history will be able to issue an MCCD – thus simplifying the process.

“The Board of Deputies is optimistic that these changes will bring the healthcare system forward, not backwards, for the benefit of bereaved Jewish families.”

Baroness Merron, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the department of health and social care and former chief executive at the Board of Deputies told the JC: “An essential concern of faith groups has been the potential delay in funerals due to medical examiner scrutiny. This concern was a fundamental consideration in designing these reforms.

“I am pleased to confirm that the new system includes provisions to minimise delays in burial, respecting the religious practices of the deceased and their families. Rapid release can be requested to prioritise cases requiring urgent attention, ensuring the new measures are proportionate and do not impose undue delays on the bereaved during difficult times following a death.”

The reforms will make it mandatory for an independent review to be carried out for all deaths in England and Wales, without exception. This will either be provided by independent scrutiny by a medical examiner or by investigation by a coroner.