Bereavement Covid-19

Bereavement Covid-19

Due to unprecedented circumstances because of the Covid-19 pandemic, some of the information within this booklet will not apply.

Please note the changes due to Covid-19 below:

• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) will not be issued to you, but scanned and sent directly to the Registrar’s Office by the Bereavement Team. • The Bereavement Team will contact you and provide you with the contact details for you to make a telephone appointment with the Registrar. • Death Certificates will be sent to the Next of Kin by the

Registrar as you cannot attend in person. • The appropriate forms will be sent to the Funeral Directors you have chosen, directly from the Registrar’s Office. • Personal items of the deceased will be stored securely.

You will need to contact the appropriate hospital to arrange the collection of these between 8am and 6pm Monday to

Friday.  University Hospital of North Durham, East Wing Corridor: 0191 333 2525  Darlington Memorial Hospital, North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) Building: 01325 743552  Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Former Police Room: 01388 455533

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on: • 01325 743656 (Darlington Memorial Hospital) • 0191 333 2683 (University Hospital of North Durham)

The Registrar will ask you the following questions about the person who has died:

• The date and place of death • The deceased’s last (usual) address • The deceased’s first name and surname (and maiden name if applicable) • The deceased’s date and place of birth • The deceased’s occupation and the name and occupation of husband / partner (if applicable) • Whether the deceased was receiving a pension or allowance from public funds • If the deceased was married, or had a civil partnership the date and birth of the surviving widow, widower or partner

The Registrar will then provide you with the Death Certificate, for which there is a cost involved for each Death Certificate purchased. You will need the Certificate for a variety of other purposes to administer the deceased’s affairs.

The Registrar will also give you either an Order for Burial

or Certificate for Cremation (known as “the green form”)

depending on whether burial or cremation is to take place.

You will also be given a Certificate of Registration of Death which is for Social Security purposes only. This applies to all deaths of all ages, as it is a legal requirement.

If the Coroner is involved his/her officer will give you a certificate so that the funeral can be held.