What to do..
when a death occurs.
The following is a guide of what to do in certain circumstances after a death.
A Death at home
If someone passes away at home, your first step depends on whether the death was expected (e.g., from a terminal illness) or unexpected.
The immediate protocol breaks down into these two scenarios:
1. If the Death Was Expected
Verify the death:
Contact the person’s GP or the out-of-hours team so a doctor or nurse can officially verify the death
Obtain the certificate:
The GP will then issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) and formal notice for the registrar, or coordinate with the medical examiner’s office.
Then call us on 01302 560641
2. If the Death Was Unexpected
Call 999:
- If the death was sudden, resulted from an accident, or the cause is unknown, dial 999 immediately.
Police involvement:
- The police will likely be called to do a routine visit and ask questions about the circumstances.
Coroner's involvement:
- The death will be reported to the local coroner, who may order a post-mortem to determine the cause of death. The funeral cannot take place until the coroner has released the body
A Passing away from home
Nursing or Residential Care Home
When someone passes away at a nursing home, the staff will immediately contact the resident’s GP and the next of kin. A medical professional will verify the death, and the staff will prepare the body with dignity.
- Immediate Actions by the Nursing Home
Verification:
A qualified nurse or local GP will confirm the death.
Contacting Family:
The staff will notify the next of kin immediately. If the death was expected, they will ensure loved ones are updated prior to passing where possible.
Calling Us:
The staff will either call us if you have previously told them to do so or ask you which funeral director you want them to call. And will bring them into our care.
2. Medical Certification
Expected Death:
If the death was expected, the resident’s GP will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). Which will get sent to the registrar.
Unexpected Death:
If the death was unexpected or accidental, the nursing home must contact the coroner. A post-mortem examination or inquest may be required before the cause of death is established and a medical certificate can be issued.
In Hospital
When someone passes away in a hospital, staff will immediately contact the next of kin. The hospital’s bereavement team will securely store the deceased’s belongings, transfer the body to the mortuary, and guide you through collecting the necessary medical paperwork to finalize the funeral arrangements
Navigating the hospital process involves a few structured steps:
The Medical Certificate:
A doctor or medical examiner will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). This usually takes 24 to 48 hours and will be sent to the registrar.
Contacting Us:
Once the medical certificate is issued, this will get sent to the registrar and they will arrange for you to go in and register the death.
Registering the Death:
You must register the death with the local registrar, ideally within 5 days. The register office will call you to arrange this. They will give you paperwork that we need to bring your loved one into our care.
Coroner Referrals:
If the cause of death is unclear or unexpected, the hospital must refer the case to the coroner. This may result in a delay while the coroner determines the cause of death.
H.M. Coroner
Coroner is automatically involved when someone dies in certain circumstances. These include:
No Doctor attended the deceased during his or her last illness
Cause of death appears to be unknown
The death was sudden or unexpected
Suspected violence or neglect
Other Suspicious circumstances
The Coroner Examination
The Coroner needs to establish through his/her investigations who the deceased person was, when they died, where they died and how they died. Most cases are a formality and an examination is all thats needed.
Will the funeral and probate have to be delayed?
If a coroner decides an inquest is necessary it does not mean that all the practical issues have to be delayed until the inquest is complete. The investigations for inquests can sometimes take weeks or even months depending on the complexity of the case.
They may issue permission for the funeral to go ahead, the coroner can issue a Certificate of the Fact of Death (often referred to as an interim certificate)
Will I be able to register the death?
It may be possible to make an appointment with the Registrar of Births & Deaths once you have the interim certificate. However, you will not receive the death certificates until after the inquest.
Inquest even when the death is from natural causes
There are certain cases where a coroner is obliged to hold an inquest even when the death is from natural causes, such as when someone has been in state detention e.g under arrest or in prison, at the time of death.
In circumstances where the Coroner feels the death is not due to natural causes
A formal inquest will be held to determine what the cause of death was.
Burial if a coroner is required
If there is no inquest, the death must be registered and the green certificate handed to us after registration.
If there was need for an Coroner’s Inquest
The Coroner provides us with the necessary form for the funeral to take place. you do not need to register the death, this is done automatically through the Coroner. The Coroner will send interim death certificates direct to you. There will be no paperwork for you to give to us.
How will I know what is happening?
A coroner’s officer should contact you at least once every 3 months while you are waiting for the inquest to update you on the progress of the investigation.