Medical records?

[Valda]

The death certificate would confirm whether there was an inquest. The Coroner would have decided on whether the circumstances of the death made it necessary to call an inquest. Inquests were/are called when the death was/is unexpected or occurred in unexpected circumstances.

Regards
Valda

[Meliora]

Hello, Katie,

Forgive me coming into this hospital discussion a little late but I have only just read all the posts.  I don't know anything about St. Bart's records up to 1900 being destroyed in 1941, I can only tell you of my own experience.

I found that a 10 year old ancestor was in St Barts in 1891, I had found on the1901 census that he had only one leg, this aroused my curiousity as to why a 10 year old had a leg removed. The Archivist was most helpful & sent me all the details known about the boy from their records,,  parent's names, home address & why the leg had to be amputed.  Try their address or website, sending all details known.

The Archive & Museum,
North Wing,
St Bartholemews Hosptial,
West Smithfield,
London   EC1A  7BE

www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/aboutus/museums_and_
archives.asp.

This also applied to the Royal London Hospital, when I asked about an aunt who had been burned in an accident at home, same time scale. I rec'd all details together with the name of the surgeon who had treated her. 

It was pointed out to me that these records are only available about patients who were admitted to hospital for treatment, if they were dead on arrival & not admitted a record was not entered in the admissions book.

Re. the Worcester Hospital, I suggest an application to the Archives Dept. of the new hospital might give a result as they may have taken over all the records of the previous hospitals.  Otherwise an enquiry at the Worcs Record Office might tell you where to look for help.

Hope this is of help

Meliora

[jaxishere]

Thank you to everyone who has replied
 
I am going to the records office tomorrow to get my mother death cert.  I spoke to the register and she said like everyone has allready said it will say on that if there was an inquest or post mortem.

I will also ask well I am there about medical records
where would be. The only problem is my mother only died in 1978 so they will properly not be available to me in my lifetime

I have a big blank in my life , what happened the night she fell down the stairs?   I was not there on a school residential trip and after it happened I was informed and taken into care I did not see her in hospital but did attend the funeral

I have snippets of information which I am not sure if they are true or  where I got them from, but pretty sure I have not made it up in my head. I was told properly by the home i was taken to

she was on a life support machinefor 24 hrs   but then it was turned off at 7pm  and she lasted till 1.23 am before she died. I life with that she properly was waiting for me to go and thats why she lasted so long without the machine. I am also sure I was told my mother and step father were argueing that night as the neigbours told the poilce.

I just wish I knew what happend that night and what happened in hospital before they turned off the machine


Jacqui

[behindthefrogs]

If someone goes into hospital as the result of an accident and subsequently dies in hospital the death is referred to the coroner who decides if the accident was likely to have contributed to the death.  If there is any likelihood of this being the case then he will hold an inquest.

David

[ejt]

What a sad story jaxishere - you have had to live with lots of questions . Best of luck in your research.
Elaine

[jaxishere]

I thought I would up date

There was an inquest into my mother death it was held 5 days after she died. the verdict was misadventure

I asked the register where I would get hold of the inquest report and he said well it says here what she died of , I then said but where would i get the inquest report and he said again it says here what she died from, thats all you need to know. So I am know better off. 

Oh he did say any inquest report would be properly not be assessable anywhere due to data protection ?

I asked where I would get hold of medical records he said he didn't know, why don't you join a society they may be able to help?  Are there socialites?

[behindthefrogs]

Try writing to the registrar quoting the freedom of information act.  I believe that under that act, as a direct descendant, you are entitled to the information.  It should also be free of charge as you are a private citizen.

David

[jaxishere]

Thanks for that information behindthefrogs

but I am new to this and have no idea what the freedom of information act is.  Can you direct me to somewhere where I can read it?

A couple more questions as I have no idea what to write.

1  Would I write to the present coroner for the area and give my mothers name details of when the inquest was held etc

2   Do I just put under the freedom of information act I am entitled to this

3  What would be available would it be the report that  I would ask for and would it give me all the information I needed or do I ask for anything else

Sorry to ask all these questions but have know idea what happens at an inquest and what information would be available

thanks again
Jacqui

[behindthefrogs]

Just say that  "As a direct descendant you believe that under freedom of information act you are entitled to a copy of the full inquest report would they please provide it or provide an explanation as to why you are not entitled to receive it."

David