Choosing a Funeral Director

You don’t have to wait until the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is issued. In some cases it may not be possible for the hospital doctor to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (ie if the death is referred to the Coroner and a further investigation is needed). When choosing a Funeral Director you should feel comfortable and confident with them. You can ask any Funeral Director for an estimated cost before making a commitment to use their services. It is reasonable to seek estimates from more than one company. The Funeral Director needs to know and discuss with you: • The name, age and religion of the deceased • The place of death and name of the doctor who has signed the

MCCD • Any particular requests left by the deceased • If burial or cremation is required • The style of coffin • The type of service, hymns, cars, flowers, newspaper notices etc you would like.

Burial or Cremation

The cost for both Burial and Cremation may vary. Please discuss this with your Funeral Director. Cremation - If you choose cremation, an additional form is required to be completed by a doctor, the doctor will receive a fee, which your chosen Funeral Director will have factored into the total cost of the funeral. Please contact your Funeral Director if you have any further enquiries regarding this. Local Authorities govern costs of cremation. Ashes can be buried in the churchyard or cemetery or they can be kept or scattered (although in some places, consent may be required to do so).

Burial - Your family may already have reserved a burial plot for which you will have a deed or grant. This will show the plot number of the existing grave. You will need to take this document to your Funeral Director. If you do not have a reserved/family plot then your Funeral Director will advise and assist you on the availability of a new plot. Some churchyards are no longer open for burials because there are no more vacant plots.

Learning from lives and deaths – People with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR)

All deaths of people with a learning disability or autistic people (aged 4 and over) will be referred into the LeDeR programme. The programme aims to improve care, reduce health inequalities and prevent people dying early by reviewing information about the health and social care support people with a learning disability or autistic people received during their life. An initial review of the death will take place, and as part of the process the local reviewer will speak to family members, friends, professionals and anyone else involved in supporting the person who has died. This is to find out more about their life and the circumstances leading to their death. Families can be involved as little or as much as they would like throughout the review process.