Deaths must be reported to the Coroner in certain circumstances.
Examples include deaths:
- that are sudden or unexplained
- that are unnatural
- that occurred at work
- where the deceased was in state detention
Anyone can report a death to the Coroner.
The Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019 came into force on 1 October 2019, which requires any referral to be made in writing.
How a doctor needs to report a death
Doctors can report referable deaths using the secure referral portal below.
The online portal can be accessed using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Other people can make a referral by:
- emailing coroners.service@suffolk.gov.uk
- writing to: Suffolk Coroners Service, Beacon House, Whitehouse Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5PB
You cannot report a death to the Coroner by phone.
What happens next?
Once a referral is received, the Coroner's Officer will contact people that have been involved in the care of the deceased and those that have knowledge of the circumstances of the death.
These enquiries will be carried out as soon as possible, but often will take several days.
During this time you are welcome to appoint a funeral director of your choice, but please advise them that the Coroner is involved. In some cases, as a result of the enquiries made, the Coroner will decide that a post-mortem is necessary.
In some cases the Coroner will determine that death was as a result of natural causes and you will not be unduly delayed in registering the death and making funeral arrangements. The Coroner’s officer will advise you if there are any delays on release of the deceased.