National medical examiner report

This report shows the NHS gave half a million bereaved families in England and Wales the opportunity to speak to an independent doctor about their loved one’s death last year, with 97% taking up this offer. The report also reveals a record fall in coroner referrals – down 24% since 2023, the lowest since records began – demonstrating the significant impact the statutory medical examiner system is having on patient safety and the experience of bereaved families.