Harrogate & District Staff QR Code - Guidelines for when to refer deaths to the Police or Coroner

NHS Harrogate District NHS Foundation Trust

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 YES

NO

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

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

YES YES

REFER TO POLICE REFER TO CORONER

9. DECEASED'S OWN ACTIONS (eg suicide, drug use)

YES

REFER TO POLICE

10. FOLLOWING SIGNIFICANT POLICE CONTACT (eg custody)

YES

REFER TO POLICE

11. DECEASED IS SUBJECT TO STATE DETENTION (Not DOLs)

YES

REFER TO CORONER

12. DECEASED'S OCCUPATION

YES

REFER TO CORONER

(Please note that there is no need to report a death simply because it occurred within 24 hours of admission)

8. ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISION (whenever it occurred)

RECENT HISTORIC

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