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 Surgery are here to help, and this guide 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 761111 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.
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.
Please be aware that even in the case of an expected death you are likely to feel shocked and distressed. It is a good idea to make yourself some strong tea – with sugar! – and to take things slowly. Bear in mind that you may not take in information as readily as usual, and you may want to write things down in order to remember them.
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.
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. 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 or unexpectedly. 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.
The doctor is no longer required to complete forms for the purposes of cremation.
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.