When a Loved One Dies at Home

What you need to do in the unfortunate event of a death.

Introduction

 

Losing a loved one is of course one of the most distressing events that can happen to anyone. This guide is designed to help you manage as best you can by giving you some of the vital information you will need.

Whether you are able to read it in advance because of a known diagnosis or whether something has suddenly happened, we hope that you will find it useful.

The doctors and team at the Practice are here to help, and this information will also help guide you to the many other people and organizations that are there to support you through a difficult time.

Bereavement support is available via Cruse UK, call 0808 808 1677

Expected Deaths

Contact your GP immediately either at the surgery:

  • 01386 793007 during surgery hours (between 8.00am – 6.30pm)

  • Out-of-hours - contact 111

If death occurs during the night (between 6.30pm and 8am) you do not need to contact a doctor until the following morning unless you want to.

If District Nurses are involved they can also be contacted on

  • 01386 502028 (between 8.30am and 5.00pm)

  • Out of hours nursing team - 0300 123 7593, Option 2 then 4 (between 5.00pm and 8.30am)

The death can then be verified by either a registered Nurse or Doctor and a certificate, confirmation of death, will be completed. Please note that this is not the official Death Certificate. The nurse or doctor will confirm to you that everything necessary has been done to ensure that the person’s body can be left in situ and for how long.

The funeral director can then be contacted and the deceased released to their care. They are there to offer lots of helpful advice – and you can talk to them if you have concerns of any kind.

Funeral Directors

Funeral Directors provide a 24hr service and can arrange for the deceased to be taken to a funeral home day or night. They normally respond within 2 hours.

Local Providers

  • AV Band Funeral Directors, Worcester - 01905 814647

  • Bedwardine Funeral Services, Worcester - 01905 748811

  • Co-Operative Funeralcare, Worcester /Redditch - 01905 22137 / 01527 66661

  • E Hill & Sons, Pershore 01386 552141

  • E.J Gumery & Sons - 01905 22094

  • George Crump and Son, Droitwich 01905 773339

  • Thomas Brothers, Redditch 01527 547777

The Medical Cause of Death Certificate

The patient’s regular GP can then prepare the Medical Cause of Death Certificate (please note this is not the Death Certificate). This may take up to 48 hours as the doctor completing the certificate must have seen the patient within 28 days prior to death. The Medical Cause of Death Certificate is sent to the Medical Examiner who reviews the information and refers on to the Coroner where appropriate. The Medical Examiners office will contact the Next of Kin and explain the next steps for registering the death.

It is not unusual for the doctor to discuss the cause of death with the coroner, even if the death was clearly from natural causes. This will be necessary if the deceased died suddenly, and had not been under a doctor’s care during the past 28 days. This does not mean that a post-mortem examination is necessary, but the Death Certificate cannot be released until confirmation of the Coroners agreement has been received.

If the deceased was subject of a DOLS (Deprivation of Liberty Status), the coroner would also be informed prior to the death certificate being issued. This may apply to patients in care and nursing homes, so this should be established with the care home, coroner’s office or surgery as it may not be lawful to proceed with the funeral until the coroner has given permission.

Registering the death

 

The Medical Examiners office will contact the Next of Kin to arrange registering the death and obtaining the Death Certificate.

You will almost certainly need extra copies of the Death Certificate in order to inform the bank and other services. The current charge is £11 per each and may be requested at the Registrar appointment or at a later date online.

If possible you should take:

  • Medical Card

  • Birth Certificate

  • Marriage Certificate

  • Documents regarding their state pension or allowance

Don’t worry if some or all of these documents are unavailable, the registrar will still be able to register the death.

The registration should be done within 5 days of the death (the only exception being when the coroner is involved).

Information Required by the Registrar

  • Date and place of death

  • Address of the deceased

  • Full names including the birth name of a married woman, any former married names and any other names by which the deceased was known.

  • Place and date of birth, the country of origin for people born outside the UK.

  • Their current or former occupation

  • Details of their husband, wife or civil partner

  • Whether they had any Government pension or allowance.

If the deceased is to be cremated, another form has to be completed by the doctor. This may involve two doctors speaking to the next of kin and any other agency involved in the care of the patient. They can then complete the cremation papers. This has to be completed at least two days prior to the cremation.

The doctor and the funeral director will manage these arrangements.

In the event of a sudden death

Contact the emergency services on 999.

Both Ambulance and Police will be mobilised. You should leave the area untouched, except for any action needed for resuscitation.

If there is any suspicion that a crime has been committed, then the police family liaison officer will guide you through the process.