CONTACT SEARCH PERSONAL BUSINESS SECTORS ABOUT US PEOPLE OFFICES INTERNATIONAL Home For You What to do when someone dies Concerns about the circumstances of a death Concerns about the circumstances of a death You may have concerns that your loved one’s death could have been avoided, for example if they had received better treatment from their hospital GP, care home, prison or other employer etc.. Informing the coroner If you are concerned about how your loved one died you should report the death to your local coroner as soon as possible, as they may decide to hold an inquest to investigate the cause of death. You can find the Coroner for your area here or by contacting the local authority. Alternatively, it may be that you are contacted by the Coroner’s Office to notify you that an inquest will be held, without you making them aware. You may want to seek legal advice from a solicitor specialising in Inquests, who can support you through the process, often at no cost to you. Investigating what went wrong Even where an inquest isn’t taking place, you may want to investigate the circumstances of your loved ones’ death. Bringing a claim against an employer, hospital, GP, care provider or state body such as the police or prison service, can allow you to investigate the circumstances around a death and potentially claim compensation if the death was caused or contributed to by negligence. Bringing a claim can also mean that the same negligent treatment or care isn’t provided to someone else. You may receive an apology and be told what lessons have been learnt or changes made to services since your loved one died to avoid the same thing happening to others. Instead of bringing a claim, or before bringing a claim, you may wish to make a formal complaint or request that an investigation is undertaken by whoever’s care the deceased was under. This could be, for example, a complaint to the Care Quality Commission if the death took place in a care home or supported living facility, a hospital Trust if the death took place either in the hospital or when someone was under the care of a community health team, or the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for deaths related to police contact. Whilst you can do this yourself, you may wish to contact a specialist lawyer who can advise you on the best way to approach the complaints process. If you have concerns about the circumstances of a death then please get in touch, or you may wish to look at our specialist pages for more information: Road traffic accidents Accidents at work Industrial disease, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis Negligent medical treatment Deaths involving mental health treatment Deaths in prison Deaths involving the police Deaths whilst serving in the armed forces Please also take a look at our Fatal Claims factsheet for more information on make a claim for compensation after a bereavement which involved negligent care. What to do when someone dies Arranging a funeral Benefits, work and money Child bereavement Concerns about the circumstances of a death First steps following a bereavement: a checklist Probate and the Will More Information Inquest and bereavement resources Inquest solicitors Meet the team Ali Cloak Partner T: 01225 730 100 Email Ali VIEW PROFILE Previous Next Case Study £350,000 settlement following delayed breast cancer diagnosis at Chesterfield Royal Hospital News We’re launching a new product to help medical negligence clients manage expenses related to their claim Opinion Why Royds Withy King supports Children’s Grief Awareness Week 2021 Posted by Ali Cloak Partner Case study Compensation secured for family of grandfather who died due to negligent care in hospital Opinion Coping with Erb's palsy - a client's experience Posted by Joachim Stanley Legal Claims Manager Expertise For Business For You Industry Sectors Who we are Pricing Our Terms of Business Vision & values CSR commitment Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Client satisfaction Withy King Trustees Limited People Find an office Bath – Queen Square Bath – Midland Bridge House Bristol London Oxford Swindon Marlborough Thame Info Hub Opinion News Case Studies Careers Working with us Current Vacancies Contact Media Enquiries Terms & Conditions Disclaimer Accessibility Statement Privacy policy & cookies policy Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement Site map Cyber crime Pay an invoice Our COVID-19 information Copyright © Royds Withy King LLP 2019 Royds Withy King is the trading name of Royds Withy King LLP. Royds Withy King LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership, registered at Companies House under registration number OC361361 and Registered Office Address of 5-6 Northumberland Buildings, Queen Square, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset, BA1 2JE. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority - 557896