Christmas opening times 2024: We are closed to all but essential services over the Christmas period. You can still use our online services to report, apply and pay 24/7.
National medical examiner system
What do you want to do?
On 9 September 2024 legislation came into force to ensure there will be an independent review of all deaths by either a Medical Examiner or a Coroner before a death can be registered. There are no exceptions.
A death will only be referred to a Coroner when one of the following applies:
- there is no Attending Practitioner to provide a cause of death
- the Attending Practitioner or Medical Examiner cannot establish the cause of death
- Section 3 of the Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019 apply
You can find out more about the Coroner’s role on the GOV.UK website.
All other deaths must be scrutinised by a Medical Examiner. You can find out more about the the role of the Medical Examiner on the NHS website.
Once this scrutiny has been completed, the death can be registered, and a funeral can take place.
As soon as the Coroner is made aware of a referrable death, one of her officers will contact the deceased’s next of kin to discuss the investigation process.
Hours of business for the Coroner's service and Medical Examiner's office
The Coroner’s service for Sheffield and Barnsley is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm except for bank holidays.
The Medical Examiner’s office in Sheffield is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm except for bank holidays. A Medical Examiner is on call 9am to 10am on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays except for Good Friday and Christmas Day.
The Medical Examiner’s office in Barnsley is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm except for bank holidays.