In the unfortunate event that a person has passed away, there are a few things that must be done in the first few days;
- Notify your Surgery of the death
- Medical certificate would then need to be issued by either by your GP, hospital doctor or coroner
- Register the death ideally within five days. You will then receive the necessary documents for the funeral.
- Make the necessary funeral arrangements.
Register the death
If the death has been reported to the coroner, the coroner must give permission before registering the death Information for the bereaved
You can register the death if you are a relative, a witness to the death, a hospital administrator or the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.
You can use the gov.uk website that will guide you through the process.
Arrange the funeral
The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself.
Funeral directors
Choose a funeral director who is a member of one of the following:
National Association of Funeral Directors
Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
These organisations have codes of practice – they must give you a price list when asked.
Some local councils run their own British Humanist Association can also help with non-religious funerals.Arranging the funeral yourself
Contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council to arrange a funeral yourself.
Funeral costs
Funeral costs can include:
– Funeral director fees
– Things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example, crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death
– Local authority burial or cremation fees
-Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quotes.
Treetops Hospice Care
Treetops Hospice Care provides nursing care and emotional support for adults and their families in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
Phone
01159 491 264
Website
www.treetopshospice.org.uk
Email
info@treetopshospice.org.ukWay Widowed & Young
WAY is the only national charity in the UK for people aged 50 or under when their partner died. It’s a peer-to-peer support group operating with a network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age themselves, so they understand exactly what other members are going through.
Website
www.widowedandyoung.org.ukDerby Sands
Supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby and promoting research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.
Website
Derby SandsWinston’s Wish
Winston’s Wish supports bereaved children, young people, their families, and the professionals who support them.
Website
www.winstonswish.orgCruse Bereavement Care
Offering support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies.
Phone
01332 332 098
Wesbite
www.cruse.org.uk
Email
Derby@cruse.org.uk
What Happens When We Are Told That Someone Has Passed Away
When our practice is informed that a patient has passed away, our team follows a careful process to make sure all the necessary medical and administrative steps are completed respectfully and correctly.
Recording the death
A member of our staff will record the death in the patient’s medical record. They will also make sure the correct information is collected so the process can continue smoothly. We appreciate the sensitivity of these questions, but you may be asked for information such as, what date/time the death was confirmed, who attended to verify the death, whether the death was expected or unexpected, whether the patient is for burial or cremation, where the patient is now i.e. funeral director. All this information helps us to liaise with the relevant organisations and provide bereavement support for the patient’s family, carers etc.
The team will inform relevant practice staff so that everyone involved in the patient’s care is aware.
Updating the patient’s records
Our administrative team will then update the patient’s medical record to help ensure that no unnecessary appointments/visits, letters, prescriptions or messages are sent after the patient has passed away.
GP review and certification
A GP will review the patient’s records and complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) if appropriate.
The GP will also refer the death to the Medical Examiner, who independently reviews deaths to ensure they have been recorded accurately.
If the death was unexpected, unexplained, or may need further investigation, the GP must refer it to the Coroner. The Coroner decides whether any further investigation is required.
Liaison with the Medical Examiner or Coroner
A designated member of our administration team will communicate with the Medical Examiner’s Office or Coroner’s Office if required to help ensure information is shared promptly.
Once we have received confirmation from the Medical Examiner and/or Coroner of the cause of death we are able to complete the MCCD and send electronically to the Registry Office.
Liaison with the Registry Office
Once the GP has sent the MCCD to the Registry Office, the Registry Office will contact the named Next Of Kin (NOK) to arrange an appointment to formally register the death, the appointment should take place within 5 days of being notified. If you haven’t had communication from the Registry Office after 8 days, please contact the Registry Office directly.
Please note that if patients are referred to the Coroner the process may take longer.
Closing the patient record
Once the date and cause of death have been confirmed and the MCCD completed, the patient’s record is formally closed and returned to the Health Authority according to NHS procedures.
Support for families
We understand that this is a very difficult time. If you have questions about the process or need help with paperwork related to the death, please contact the practice and our team will do their best to support you.
Please see above for more information about bereavement support.