When death occurs, you may be unsure of what to do or expect, particularly if this is the first time you have suffered a loss. As soon as you feel comfortable, we would advise you to give us a call, so we can guide you through the necessary steps and decisions that need to be made.
At home/nursing home
If your loved one has passed away at home, firstly you should call their doctor’s surgery as the death will need to be certified by qualified personnel. Once a member of the medical profession has confirmed death, we can be contacted to convey the deceased into our care. If the doctor can confirm the cause of death they will issue a Medical Certificate of Death in due course. The certificate will usually be issued and left in the doctor’s surgery to be collected by a family member.
If your loved one is in a residential care home, the staff will contact the medical practitioner on your behalf.
In hospital
When a loved one passes away in hospital, it is the responsibility of the hospital staff and nurses to arrange for a doctor to issue a Medical Certificate of Death. The certificate will be issued to your loved ones next of kin, who will then be able to make an appointment to register the death.
Your loved one will be taken into the hospital mortuary. As soon as the necessary paperwork is completed we will arrange for your loved one to be brought into our care and conveyed to our funeral home.
Suddenly or unexpected
If a death is sudden or unexpected, you should first call an ambulance service, so that a medical professional can confirm and establish the cause of death. If the cause of death cannot be established, or your loved one didn’t have any prior medical concerns, their death may be referred to the coroner.
If this is the case, the coroner’s office will contact the next of kin and explain what steps they will be taking next. When a coroner is involved, unfortunately this may mean that your loved one is unable to be brought into our care and the date of the funeral delayed. We understand that this prospect can be extremely distressing for you and we will therefore be on hand to support and help guide you through the process in any way we can.
If you are worried and unsure of what steps you need to take next, let us put your mind at ease by giving our family a call today. Whatever your concerns may be, please be reassured that we’re here to support and guide you through this difficult time.