Helpful Information

There is never a good time to lose someone you love, even on those occasions when it is expected, you find your whole world turned upside down. More so when unexpected or sudden.

Take time to reflect on what has just happened and consider how best to move forward from here. Remember, we are here to help.

At Home
If the death is expected and at home or in a nursing home, and the Doctors and Nurses have been treating the person, once they have confirmed that the person has actually passed away we can be called to move the deceased into our care and start to make arrangements for the funeral. We make ourselves available 24 hours a day for this eventuality. The Doctor would usually be able to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death within a day or two.  The Doctor will email this to the Medical Examiners Office. You no longer have to collect this yourself.

In Hospital                                                                                                                                                             
If the death is expected and in Hospital, then the Doctors and Nurses that have been in attendance and have been treating the person for more than 24 hours, would usually be able to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death within a few days but in some circumstances in some hospitals this can take up to a week. This is then emailed to the Medical Examiners Office.  You can however contact us and commence making funeral arrangements whilst waiting for the certification. The deceased would be moved within the hospital facility awaiting registration of the death before we are ablke to bring them into our care.

Unexpected or Sudden                                                                                                                                   
Were a person passes away unexpectedly, suddenly or as the result of an accident, or for whatever reason a Doctor cannot issue a certificate of cause of death, then the death must be reported to His Majesty’s Coroner with the Jurisdiction of where the death occurred. This may become a daunting event and process. Please don’t worry, you can contact our office for guidance and support. The process may involve the attendance of Police Officers, this is nothing to worry about, the officer is there primarily as an officer of the coroner and would report the circumstances of the death back to the coroner who would then decide what action is required, if any.

Bereavement care
Sometimes it can be useful to speak with a professional who isn’t related to you and has no previous knowledge of the situation you have found yourself in.

If this is the case you may find the following contact details helpful:

Cruse Bereavement Care - Telephone 0808 808 1677 or visit www.cruse.org.uk

Mind - Telephone 0300 123 3393 or visit www.mind.org.uk

Samaritans - Telephone 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org