Information for witnesses
Why you may be asked to be a witness for a Coroner
Providing a witness statement for the Coroner
What should a witness statement include?
All witness statements should address any known concerns raised by the family and include details of:
- Your current professional position
- Your professional position at the time you were treating the deceased
- Your qualifications
- The full chronology of events leading to death
- The details of any assessment and/or treatment your and/or your team provided to the deceased, including:
- The place
- The date
- The relevant history at the point of assessment/treatment
- Condition on assessment
- Outcome of investigations
- The diagnosis (and the basis for it)
- Treatment given
- Any complications that arose
- Progress and response to treatment
- Your opinion on the likely medical cause of death, if you’re able to give one.
If the Coroner concludes that your statement is relevant to their investigation it must be shared with any Properly Interested Person that asks for it, this may be in advance of or during the Inquest itself.
Guidance on giving evidence at an inquest
Claiming travel expenses for attending an Inquest
- When travelling by public transport:
- You will only be refunded up to the cost of the economy fare for the journey (unless the Coroner agrees otherwise)
- Where travel is by taxi or other privately hired vehicle:
- You may only make a claim if the Coroner is satisfied that no alternative public transport was available
- You will only be paid expenses that the coroner believes are reasonable.
- Where travel is by private transport (such as your own car or bicycle):
- You may claim any reasonable parking fees
- You may claim mileage expenses
Getting to the Coroner's Court
The Coroner’s Court is located on the A6 close to Stockport Town Centre and is next to the Town Hall adjacent to the Stockport Art Museum.
Car – The Court is located a few minutes off the M60 motorway, please use post code SK1 3XE if using a satnav. PLEASE NOTE – there are no parking facilities at the Court, there is on street metered, parking around the Court but this is limited. There are a number of public car parks nearby.
If you require a disabled parking place please contact the office.
Train – Stockport train station is situated close to the Court, approximately a 10 minute walk away.
Bus – There are many local bus services which stop outside of the court on Wellington Road South.
Our facilities
- The Court has a communal waiting area, toilets including a toilet for people with disabilities
- There is a loop system available in the Court
- Smoking is not permitted in the Court building
- Guide and assistance dogs are permitted within the Court
Contact details
Address
Coroner's Court
1 Mount Tabor Street
Stockport
SK1 3AG
(For Sat Navs please use SK1 3XE)
0161 474 3993
Please note the phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to midday and from 1pm to 4pm