Death referrals

All doctors’ referrals to the coroner’s office must be submitted online.

Please contact your practice manager for the surgery login details.

If your practice has not registered for the referral portal, please email coroner@reading.gov.uk for assistance.

Referral guidance

For advice and information please refer to your LMC guidelines, or the National Medical Examiner System.

If you are unsure of whether a death needs to be referred, please see the Notification of Deaths Regulations (including coronavirus advice).

Please note the national medical examiner service is statutory as of 9 September 2024 and therefore all deaths will need to be reviewed by either a medical examiner or a coroner. The MCCD (Medical Certificate of Cause of Death) will need to be passed to a medical examiner in the following circumstances:

• you are able to complete an MCCD as the attending practitioner if you have attended the deceased in their lifetime and are satisfied to the best of your knowledge and believe that the cause of death is natural
• you do not believe the coroner’s duty to investigate is triggered as per the Notification of Deaths Regulations