Guidance for HDFT Staff on Care after Death
Guidelines for when to refer deaths to the Police or Coroner
GUIDELINES FOR WHEN TO REFER DEATHS TO THE POLICE OR CORONER
IS THE IDENTITY OF THE DECEASED KNOWN
COULD THE DEATH BE DUE TO
REFER TO POLICE
1. ASSAULT OR VIOLENCE YES REFER TO POLICE
2. POISONING (Accidental or intentional) YES REFER TO POLICE
3. DURING OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN OPERATION YES REFER TO CORONER
4. WITHIN 24 HOURS OF ANAESTHETIC YES REFER TO CORONER
(Please note that there is no need to report a death simply because it occurred within 24 hours of admission)
5. IATROGENIC CAUSE (not just recent) YES REFER TO CORONER
6. NEGLECT (Including self neglect) YES REFER TO CORONER
7. NON VIOLENT TRAUMA (eg fall) YES REFER TO CORONER
8. ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISION RECENT YES REFER TO POLICE (whenever it occurred) HISTORIC YES REFER TO CORONER
9. DECEASED'S OWN ACTIONS (eg suicide, drug use) YES REFER TO POLICE
10. FOLLOWING SIGNIFICANT POLICE CONTACT YES REFER TO POLICE (eg custody)
11. DECEASED IS SUBJECT TO STATE DETENTION YES REFER TO CORONER (Not DOLs)
12. DECEASED'S OCCUPATION YES REFER TO CORONER
When you are satisfied that none of the above conditions apply and the cause of death is known then a MCCD should be issued.
CONTACTS
Police via 101
Coroner's officers
For Scarborough / York / Selby hospitals via 01609 643614 /01609 643123 /01609 643168
For Harrogate and Northallerton hospitals via 01609 643181