Over the past few weeks, Humberside LMCs has received a high volume of queries relating to Coroner referrals. We can confirm that where referrals meet the criteria for referral to a Coroner, they should continue to be sent to them using the usual routes. If the Coroner doesn’t feel the referral is appropriate, they will either pass it to the Medical Examiner’s Office, or may direct the GP to do so.
Where GPs are uncertain whether a referral to the Coroner is required, they should liaise with the Medical Examiner’s Office in the first instance. If a decision to refer to the Coroner is made, the referral is made by the GP, and the Coroner typically works with the Medical Examiner’s Office to complete the death certification process.
We are keen to avoid GPs being caught in between cases being passed back and forth between the Coroner’s office and ME service, and have raised the concerns from GPs and practices in the strongest possible terms with both teams. Nationally, there remains some ambiguity about whether having “attended” a patient means that a patient has been seen in person, or not. We anticipate clarification in the coming days.
Please continue to contact the LMC if you experience issues regarding making referrals to the Coroner – email humberside.lmcgroup@nhs.net.
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