What to do when someone passes away
The death of a loved one can be very distressing and if you were not expecting it, you may find yourself in shock as well as suffering from grief.
You may also find yourself not knowing what to do, as you might not have suffered a bereavement before.
This guide aims to help you by letting you know what needs to happen following the death of a loved one.
When someone dies at home
When someone dies at home you should contact the deceased’s GP. They will attend and confirm that death has occurred. They will also confirm if they are able to issue a Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death which is required to register the death.
Once the death has officially been confirmed, we are permitted to bring the person into our care, should you so wish.
When someone dies in a nursing home
In a Nursing or Residential Home, the Manager, Matron or Warden staff will arrange for the doctor to visit and will be able to advise you where the Medical Certificate is likely to be completed, which is required to register the death.
You should advise the Matron, Warden staff to contact W. A. Truelove & Son, and we will arrange the removal of the deceased into our care.
When someone dies in hospital
When a death occurs in hospital, the doctor attending the deceased will normally issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and liaise with the bereavement officer, who are able to offer you emotional support and practical advice about what to do next.
They will inform you where the nearest Registry Office is, so that you can register the death.
The role of the coroner
If your loved one has died unexpectedly, you should contact their doctor and, dependent on circumstances, sometimes the police.
If the person who has died was not visited by a medical practitioner during their final illness or died during an operation or if the cause of death is sudden, unknown, violent or unnatural, in suspicious circumstances or as the result of an industrial disease, then it must be investigated by the coroner.
The police or doctor will automatically contact the coroner in these circumstances.
The coroner may ask for a post-mortem to establish the cause of death, this is a medical examination of the body. If further investigation is required, (inquest), registration of the death cannot be made until the inquest is completed. A Post-mortem or Inquest should not delay when you can hold the funeral.
The Coroner’s Office will contact the family, usually within 48 hours of the death being reported in order to explain the outcome of the investigation.