Health · England
Learning from someone’s life and death
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When someone dies, their care can be reviewed.
LeDeR helps services learn how to give better care.
The review looks at the person’s life and care.
It asks what went well and what needs to change.
LeDeR reviews the deaths of adults with a learning disability and autistic adults.
They must have been aged 18 or over.
Children’s deaths have a different review process.
Anyone can tell LeDeR about an eligible adult’s death.
Use the official NHS reporting form.
Families can share what mattered to the person.
They can explain good care and things that worried them.
Ask for help to share your information.
Ask for information in a way you understand.
You can choose how much to take part.
Some reviews look at care in more detail.
These are called focused reviews.
Families can ask for a focused review.
Ask for the completed review and an explanation.
Ask what services will change.
Ask who will check that changes happen.
LeDeR does not replace a complaint or investigation.
Tell services about serious concerns straight away.
An advocate can help you raise concerns.
You can ask for support when someone dies.
You can ask someone you trust to help you.
What you can do next
The button opens the NHS LeDeR reporting page.
Use it to check the rules or report a death.
Open the NHS LeDeR reporting page Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- Official NHS LeDeR notification form Web page
Report an adult’s death and read current eligibility information.
- NHS England: understanding LeDeR Web page
Purpose of reviews, focused reviews and how findings support service improvement.
- Child Death Review guidance Web page
The separate review process for deaths of people under 18 in England.
- NHS England: medical examiners Web page
Independent scrutiny and opportunities for bereaved people to raise concerns.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
LeDeR: learning from lives and deaths
How to notify a death, involve families and ask how learning will improve care.
Learning disability and autism death reviews · England
What LeDeR means
LeDeR stands for Learning from Lives and Deaths — People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People. It is an NHS service improvement programme in England. Reviews consider the person’s life and relevant health and social care, including good care and things that should improve. They look beyond the last hospital stay. The aim is to improve services and reduce inequalities and premature deaths.
Who can have a review?
The current national reporting service is for people aged 18 or over who had a learning disability or were autistic. A person does not need both diagnoses. Deaths of people under 18 follow the Child Death Review process. Ask the child’s healthcare team or local Child Death Review team about the children’s process.
How to notify a death
Anyone can use the official NHS LeDeR reporting form, including a family member, friend or professional. You do not need to prove poor care or that the death was preventable. The form asks about the person, circumstances of the death, your relationship and contact details. Give the information you know and ask the local LeDeR team for help if needed. Use the official form, not this website’s contact box, for confidential death notifications. You can ask the care provider whether it has already notified the death.
What happens in a review?
The local team reviews relevant care records and gathers information about the person’s care and life. NHS England describes an initial review for every eligible notified death, with a more detailed focused review where indicated. Families can request a focused review. NHS England says focused reviews are also completed for autistic people and people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Ask which review is planned, who your contact is and when to expect an update; do not assume notification means the review is already finished.
How families can take part
Bereaved families, or someone who knew the person well, should be invited to contribute. Explain the person’s strengths, relationships, communication and what mattered in their life. Share what worked, what worried you and what you believe services missed. You can ask for communication adjustments, a supporter and a pace that works for you. You can choose how much to participate. A review can continue if a family does not wish to take part.
Prepare your questions
You might write a short timeline and gather relevant letters, care plans and your own observations. Possible questions include: Were changes from the person’s usual health recognised? Were reasonable adjustments made? Were concerns about pain, swallowing, bowel health, medicines or seizures acted on? Did services work together and listen to the person and those who knew them? These are prompts, not conclusions about why someone died. Keep copies and agree how to send information securely.
Ask for the findings and actions
Ask to comment on the draft account of the person’s life and to receive the completed review. Ask for an explanation of findings, what changes are planned, who is responsible and how progress will be reported. ICBs publish local learning reports. Reviewing a death is only one step; changes in care and evidence that they work are the important outcome. Ask the local team how to raise concerns about the review itself.
LeDeR is different from an investigation or complaint
A LeDeR review does not replace a coroner’s investigation, safeguarding enquiry, patient-safety investigation or formal complaint. It does not itself decide criminal responsibility, legal liability or compensation. Raise serious care concerns promptly with the provider and the relevant complaints or safeguarding service. CQC can receive information about poor care but generally does not resolve individual complaints. Seek specialist advice if legal action is being considered; waiting for LeDeR may not protect a legal deadline.
Medical examiners and bereavement support
Deaths not investigated by a coroner are independently scrutinised by medical examiners. Bereaved people should have an opportunity to ask questions or share concerns with the medical examiner team. This process is separate from LeDeR. Ask the hospital or GP how to contact the relevant team. Grief can affect family, friends and paid supporters. Ask for bereavement support and accessible explanations, including for people with learning disabilities who have lost someone important.
Words you could use
“Please confirm whether the death has been notified to LeDeR, explain the review process and tell us how to contribute, request a focused review and receive the findings.”
More useful links
- Official NHS LeDeR notification form Web page
Report an adult’s death and read current eligibility information.
- NHS England: understanding LeDeR Web page
Purpose of reviews, focused reviews and how findings support service improvement.
- Child Death Review guidance Web page
The separate review process for deaths of people under 18 in England.
- NHS England: medical examiners Web page
Independent scrutiny and opportunities for bereaved people to raise concerns.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 1 November 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- NHS LeDeR: report a death Web page
Current eligibility is age 18 and over for learning disability or autism; under-18s are directed to Child Death Review.
- NHS England: Learning from lives and deaths Web page
Review purpose, initial and focused reviews, family requests and limits of the programme.
- NHS England: LeDeR policy, family involvement PDF
Families’ contribution, choice about involvement, draft account and completed review. Read age eligibility with the current reporting page.
- NHS England: who is involved in LeDeR Web page
Provider notifications, ICB learning reports and action to improve services.
- Government: Child Death Review guidance Web page
The statutory and operational review process for children.
- NHS England: medical examiners Web page
Independent scrutiny of deaths not investigated by a coroner and listening to bereaved people.
- CQC: complain about a service or provider Web page
Feedback supports regulation but CQC does not take forward individual service complaints.