Lesley Higginson
10 Jun 2026 · Coroner Jacqueline Devonish · Cheshire
The coroner's concerns
1. failure to respond to welfare check
“Failed contact was followed up by a call to the ambulance service which indicated that they would not attend”
2. unclear policy application for welfare check rejection
“It is unclear from the ambulance service response whether a request for a welfare check, in the circumstances of this death, is to be deemed to be healthcare related and whether the ambulance service properly rejected the request, on the grounds stated”
3. policy conflict between police and ambulance service for welfare checks
“The RCRP policy states that the police in Cheshire (and in other areas nationally) will not respond to welfare check calls when healthcare are best placed to support those who may be in crisis”