What to do when someone dies

For immediate help or advice please call 01908 367777. Remember, when calling this number, you will speak directly to a member of our family who will help you through every stage of the process and answer any questions you may have.

In Hospital or Hospice

When a death occurs in hospital or hospice it is usually expected by the doctors treating the patient. This means that the doctor will be able to issue a Cause of Death Certificate which in turn is used to register the death.

The medical cause of death certificate is usually issued via the bereavement officer at the hospital, and can be collected by appointment.

If for any reason the doctor feels they are not in a position to issue the cause of death certificate they will refer the case to the Coroner who will decide whether a certificate can be issued or whether further investigation is necessary. If further investigation is required, a Post Mortem Examination may be ordered, usually to determine the exact cause of death. In most cases this will not necessarily cause any delay in making funeral arrangements. After the Coroner has carried out their investigations, they will release the body to the funeral director and supply the Register Office with the appropriate paperwork for the family to attend and register the death.

You are welcome to contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for any advice or to start making provisional arrangements.

In a Nursing or Care Home

When a death occurs in a nursing home the deceased’s usual doctor, or an on call doctor, will be called to confirm death. Only after the doctor has attended can the family or home staff call the funeral director to take the deceased in to their care. The deceased’s normal doctor will issue the Cause of Death Certificate and will normally be collected from their surgery in order to register the death.

You are welcome to contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for any advice, to take your loved one in to our care or to start making provisional arrangements.

If the death is unexpected, the death may be reported to the Coroner in which case the police will attend on the Coroner’s behalf and the *Coroner’s nominated funeral director will be called to remove the deceased to hospital to await further investigation. After the Coroner has carried out their investigations, they will release the body to your funeral director of choice and supply the Register Office with the appropriate paperwork for the family to attend and register the death.

*Please note- You are under no obligation to use the Coroner’s funeral director for funeral arrangements. They are only contracted to convey the deceased to hospital, or store the body until it can be taken there if out of normal working hours.

You are welcome to contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for any advice or to start making provisional arrangements.

At Home

When death occurs at a private house the first call is to the normal doctor or duty on call doctor. Only after the doctor has confirmed the death can the funeral director take the deceased in to their care. The deceased’s own doctor will issue the Cause of Death Certificate to the family who can then register the death.

If the death is unexpected the death may be reported to the Coroner in which case the police will attend on the Coroner’s behalf and the *Coroner’s nominated funeral director will be called to remove the deceased to hospital to await further investigation. After the Coroner has carried out their investigations, they will release the body to the funeral director of your choice, and supply the Register Office with the appropriate paperwork for the family to attend and register the death.

You are welcome to contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for any advice or to start making provisional arrangements

Please call 01908 367777 for immediate attention