The case for a cost-effective central coronial database following an analysis of coronial records relating to deaths in nursing homes

• We present the forensic death investigation system in Ireland including compulsory reporting.
• We explain the data collation and analysis of coroners' files in a specified population cohort.
• We present the primary causes of death in that nursing home cohort.
• We did not find any significant increase in the percentage of post-mortem examinations.
• Our analysis proposes a non-specialised, cost-effective central database of coroners' findings.

In order to demonstrate the potential wider epidemiological application of the data held in coroners' files, this paper uses an analysis of nursing home deaths reported to the coroner in County Kildare, Ireland. We examine the deaths in relation to ages, primary causes of death and rates of post-mortem examination. Knowing that Europe's population is increasing in age, the analyses presented here show the type of information that could be made available relating to certain population cohorts. Currently, there is no easily accessible way to obtain this information in Ireland, so we present the case for the implementation of a central coroner's database with potential for application in other jurisdictions but with the caveat that it must be cost-effective and use current resources, rather than establishing new ones.