Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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You have been given this information because we have referred your relative’s death to the coroner. We appreciate that this is a very difficult time for you having recently lost a loved one and hope this information supports you in understanding the next steps.
Coroners Role
There are national criteria, set in law, that we follow when we decide to refer a death to the coroner. In some circumstances we seek advice from the Coroner prior to issuing a Medical Certificate for the Cause of Death and this may subsequently result in the need for a Coroners referral.
A guide to the Coroners Services is available on the Ministry of Justice website: www.
or the local council website will have the local Coroners information.
Contact from the Coroner’s Officer
Your main contact will be with a Coroner’s Officer who liaises on behalf of the Coroner. If we refer a case to the Coroner, the Coroner’s Officer will discuss things with you and provide you with their contact details and explain what will happen next. They will keep in touch with you as Coroners can take some time to make their enquiries and decisions. If you have any questions or concerns about the death you should let them know.
Exceptional circumstances and faith-based needs
You should also discuss any circumstances or faith-based needs with the Coroner’s Officer as soon as you can. This includes requirements around mourning, post- mortems, and funerals.
Coroners decisions
When a Coroner’s enquiry concludes that the death was of natural causes, in most cases the Coroner has no further role. If the cause of death is unknown, following the initial enquiries, they may arrange a postmortem which may help the Coroner make their decision in respect of the cause of death.
If they are satisfied that the cause of death is natural and there is no need for further investigation, the Coroner’s Officer or the Bereavement team will let you know. If the cause of death is unknown, they may decide to hold a post mortem or inquest.
Registering a death and making arrangements for burial or cremation
If the cause of death is known the Coroner may release the body so that you can make funeral arrangements. If the cause of death is unknown the Coroner may give you an interim death certificate, pending any further investigation or inquest, so you can make arrangements for burial. When the cause of death is known you will be able to register the death.
If there is going to be an inquest
The purpose of an inquest is not to determine blame it is to address four questions of who died, where and when they died and how they came by their death. The conclusion, (previously called the verdict) will not identify someone as having criminal or civil liability for any care provided. The Coroner’s Officer will keep you informed of what to expect in regard to an inquest.
If you have questions and concerns
If you have some questions about your relative’s death, we would ask that you discuss this with the Bereavement Office who will inform the Medical Examiner (a senior doctor who ensures the information on a Medical Certificate of Death is correct). If you have concerns about the care provided, we do ask that you let us know as soon as possible so that we can investigate on your behalf.
Whilst access to medical records for deceased patients is restricted under the Access to Health Records Act 1990 we will try and respond to your concerns if you have been the named contact for the patient.
For further information and to access support you may find the following helpful
The Coroner’s Courts Support Services Helpline Telephone: 0300 111 2141
Website: www coronerscourtssupportservice.org.uk
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Bereavement service.
About this information
Service:
Bereavement
Reference:
CC/011
Approval date:
13 April 2026
Review date:
1 April 2029
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.