If the death of your loved one is unexpected, and it may need to be referred to the coroner.
Coroners investigate sudden or unexplained deaths and following The Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
Where is my loved one now?
One of the coroners contracted funeral directors has collected your loved one,and taken them to their chapel of rest. They will be professionally cared for in a dignified manner. You are free to use any funeral director of your choice once the coroner has concluded their enquiries. The coroner will release your loved one for funeral arrangements as soon as practicably possible.
What do I need to do now?
Please contact their General Practitioner (GP) at your earliest opportunity to notify them of the death and provide them with a telephone number of the person who will be registering the death. All deaths are now legally required to be scrutinised by either the Medical Examiner or Coroner. The GP must refer the death to either the Medical Examiner or Coroner depending on the whether they are able to provide a cause of death and the circumstances involved.
What will Medical Examiner do now?
Once the referral has been received by the Medical Examiner, they will contact the next of kin, and the doctor involved in their care prior to death.
If the cause of death is clear and natural, then the Medical Examiner will conclude their enquiries and provide paperwork to Registration Services allowing the death to be registered. If the cause of death is not clear and unnatural then the death will be referred to the coroner
What will the Coroner do now?
Once the referral has been received by the coroner, they will contact the next of kin, and the doctor involved in their care prior to death.
If the cause of death is not clear or unnatural the coroner will be required to continue enquiries and may arrange for a post-mortem examination to establish a cause of death.
Post-mortem examinations are carried out by highly experienced pathologists in specialist facilities within the local hospital of where the deceased passed away.
Following a post-mortem examination, if the cause of death is found to be natural then the coroner will conclude their enquiries and provide paperwork to Registration Services allowing the death to be registered.
Inquests and investigations
In some cases the Coroner may need to gather additional information and conduct a more detailed investigation. This investigation may lead to the requirement to hold an inquest. Reasons for this could be:
- The death was unnatural due to a road traffic collision, suicide, or the result of an accident.
The death was caused by an industrial disease or accident