Most patient deaths in ED don’t need require Coroner referral and should go through the Medical Examiner
Advice can be sought directly from the ME team via email (during office hours) medical.examiner@cht.nhs.uk
- Send patient details
- Proposed cause of death – indicate your level of confidence
Police only need to be informed in the following circumstances:
- When the identity of the deceased is unknown
- When support is needed in identifying OR informing the next of kin of the deceased
- If the death is suspicious
Document following in the patients notes:
- Time of certification and full name and contact details of certifying doctor
- Cause of death if known
- Names and phone numbers of NOK
- Names of those present when the patient died (staff and relatives)
Link to coroners webpage – if you need to confirm contact details
