Hemel Hempstead Hospital

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01923 217198

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The staff wish to express their sincere sympathy to you at this time.

This booklet aims to provide some practical help and advice during the early days of your bereavement.

Please don’t hesitate to ask questions if you are unclear about any matter, our staff will always be pleased to help.

How to contact the Hospital

Hemel Hempstead Hospital

Hillfield Road

Hemel Hempstead

HP2 4AD

St Peters Ward numbers: 01442 287602 or 287149

Medical Certificates can take a few days to process. The staff will be able to advise you about the process for obtaining a medical certificate of cause of death and provide indication when the certificate maybe come available to you. The hospital will contact you once the certificate has been scanned to the registry office, there is no need for you to collect this from the hospital.

One of the team will ask some additional questions in order to help complete the necessary paperwork, they will then explain the registration process and you will be given the opportunity to ask questions.

Part of the additional questions you will be asked if you have any concerns regarding the care your loved one received prior to the patient’s death.

If you do not agree with the information stated on the medical certificate of cause of death, please raise this with the senior medical examiner officer when they provide you with the cause of death, they will then raise your concerns with the medical examiner who has reviewed your loved one’s case. Once registration has taken place any changes will be difficult to amend.

The Role of the Medical Examiner

Each inpatient death that occurs within the Trust is reviewed by a Medical Examiner. Our Medical Examiners are senior doctors who are independent from the care of our patients here at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals. This ensures that all deaths are scrutinised by someone who has not been involved in the patient’s treatment. The responsibilities of Medical Examiners are first and foremost to the deceased and the bereaved family.

The Medical Examiner will:

• Advise doctors on how to complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) and they will ensure that the information on them is correct.

• Advise doctors on whether the law requires the coroner to be informed about the death.

• Identify cases where some aspects of healthcare could have been better and feedback suggestions for possible improvements in the future.

Medical Examiners are assisted by Medical Examiner Officers, who are not doctors but who come from a variety of relevant backgrounds and have completed the required training for their role. As most of our Medical Examiners work part time in the role, our Medical Examiner Officers provide continuity and oversight to the death certification process for each bereaved family.

One of the Medical Examiners Officers or Medical Examiners will call you to explain what has been proposed as the cause of death. This will be the final cause of death as written on the Death Certificate. You will be asked if this is what you were expecting and if you need to have

any further information. You will be given the opportunity to ask any questions or to raise any concerns you have. Causes of death often use medical terminology which can be confusing so feel free to ask for a simpler explanation if necessary.

If you have any further questions relating to the illness or treatment of your relative, the Medical Examiner may be able to help you. Alternatively, they can guide you on who to contact.

Belongings

Please contact the ward to arrange collection of your loved one’s property.

Hospital Viewings

The ward staff can assist with a viewing of the deceased patient, however as this may not always be possible due to service pressure demands and in these circumstances, we would always advise the family to make an appointment to view their loved one when they are in the care of a nominated funeral director.

Registering a death

Once the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been sent to the Registry Office, you must register the death with the Registrar of Births and Deaths within five working days. There is no charge made to register a death unless you wish to obtain a copy of the death certificate. Please make an appointment with your preferred Registration Office, or you can go online at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk. You may register at any office in Hertfordshire, Patient Affairs can supply you with a list of contact details.

Local Registration Offices:

Watford Registration Office:

31 Hempstead Road

Watford

WD17 3EY

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm Tel: 0300 123 4045

St. Albans Registration Office:

The Gatehouse

1 Victoria Square Victoria Street

St Albans

AL1 3TF

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm Tel: 0300 123 4045

Hemel Hempstead Registration Office

The Forum

Marlowes

Hemel Hempstead

Hertfordshire

HP1 1DN

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm Tel: 0300 123 4045

You will need to take along the following information about the person who has died:

• Their full name and surname (and maiden name for married women)

• Their date and place of birth (birth certificate helpful but not essential)

• Their occupation

• Their usual home address

• Any pension or allowance they received

• Date of birth of their surviving widow/widower.

As well as the purchased Death Certificate, the Registrar will give you a Green Certificate of Burial or Cremation, which you should give to the Funeral Director.

Delays in registering the death

Where there is religious and cultural customs while staff will endeavour at all times to assist in the fulfilling of any particular religious requirement you may have in relation to funeral practices, sometimes there are unavoidable delays in the issuing of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. In all these circumstances the person’s body cannot be released immediately, and a delay is to be expected. The main causes of such delays are as follows:

1. When the death takes place ‘out of hours’

• Friday afternoon - Monday morning

• Public holidays

2. When there are legal reasons for a delay: see section ‘Duties of the Coroner’

3. When the funeral is to take place out of England.

• An ‘Out of England’ order will be issued by the Coroner beforehand

• A ‘Free from Infection’ Certificate must be issued by the hospital prior to transportation. Your Funeral Director can request this.

The body of a deceased person cannot be released from the hospital until the death has been registered, and you have been given the correct certificate by the Registrar. Whoever collects the deceased from the hospital (usually the Funeral Director) must bring the correct documents with them.

Duties of the Coroner

Some deaths have to be reported to the Coroner for legal reasons. This is usually when a Doctor is unable to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. The Coroner is appointed by the King to investigate certain types of death. If a post-mortem is required, a slight delay may be experienced before the registration and funeral process can take place.

A death can be referred to the Coroner if:

• No precise cause has been ascertained.

• It follows an operation, or if it is possible that it could be due to a complication of surgery or anaesthetics

• If it is not thought be from natural causes

• It is due to an injury, however it happened, or if an accident or negligence is alleged

You will receive a call once a referral has been made to the Coroners within 5-7 working days of them receiving the referral.

HERTFORDSHIRE CORONER SERVICE 01707 292 793

There are other times when a death needs to be referred to the Coroner, for example death from industrial diseases, poisoning, suicide, murder etc. The patient affairs team will be able to help you and give you further advice on this.

Bereavement Care provided by the Spiritual and Pastoral Care Team

The Spiritual and Pastoral Care Team is made up of Chaplains and Spiritual healthcare providers whose role is to provide spiritual healthcare providers whose role is to provide spiritual, pastoral and religious care (for all religions and beliefs) for all patients and their relatives.

Memories Cafe - every Monday 11am - 1pm at West Herts NHS Hospital Chaplaincy

Weekly Memories Café* provides a cup of tea and space for anyone who has experienced bereavement to meet with others who understand what it’s like to lose someone. This is an opportunity to talk about the pain of bereavement in an open, inclusive and non-judgemental space and find mutual support and encouragement when you may need it most.

Watford hospital chaplaincy, Vicarage Road. Please let us know if you would like to attend.

Email: westherts.spiritualcare@nhs.net

*This is not a counselling service or therapy group, but we can signpost you to counselling services in the area.

Service of Remembrance

Every year West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust holds a Service of Remembrance for families, friends and carers of people who have died here in the Trust. This non-denominational service is held each year in November.

If you are interested in attending this service and would like to receive more information, please email your details to westherts.patientexperience@nhs.net and we will contact you nearer the time.

Organ, Tissue and Body Donations

Patient Affairs can advise you on all matters relating to organ and tissue donations for the benefit of others and for those who have chosen to donate their body to a school of anatomy.

Arranging a Funeral

You may contact a Funeral Director twenty four hours a day, including weekends. Your chosen Funeral Director can make all the necessary arrangements and can also advise you on all the procedures and documents you will need as well as the timing of the funeral service. They may come to your house if you prefer. Your own Minister, Priest or religious leader and the Hospital Chaplains may also be of great help during this difficult time.

Funerals are expensive. Although basic costs tend to be similar, the final cost can vary considerably. Do not be afraid to mention your budget.

Most Funeral Directors belong to the NAFD (National Association of Funeral Directors) and/or SAIF (Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors) and/or the BIFD (British Institute of Funeral Directors). These associations have their own codes of practice that must be followed to ensure consistant levels of service and standards. Patient Affairs can give you a list of local Funeral Directors.

Financial help may be available if you receive benefits. Please ask Patient Affairs about this and contact the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) before making any arrangements. The Bereavement Support Network may also be able to advise you on these matters (see page 19).

If the person who has died was a War Pensioner, you may be able to get a grant.

Veterans UK (Previously War Pensions)

Ministry of Defence

Thornton Cleveleys FY5 3WP

Telephone: 0808 1914 218

State benefits

Further information is available by the DWP titled ‘What to do after death’ and is available from www.gov.uk.

Some advice you may find helpful

• Do seek the support of friends, family or a caring organisation. This booklet includes some numbers of caring organisations who can offer help and support (see from page 16).

• Don’t let anyone hurry you into making immediate decisions until you are ready, especially with regard to funeral arrangements.

• Don’t be afraid to tell the Funeral Director if you only have a limited amount of money for the funeral. They will help and advise you.

• Your local religious community may be of help to you at this time; don’t be afraid to contact them even if you are not a practising member.

• Do take care of yourself; eat properly and try to rest.

• Consult your family doctor who is there to help.

• Take care not to enter into any financial arrangements that you do not understand.

• Give yourself time to adjust to life without your loved one before making any major changes.

• Do remember to contact any of the organisations mentioned overleaf if you require help or would like to talk through any difficulties.

• We all grieve differently. You may have all sorts of mixed feelings and emotions. These can include numbness, panic, anger and deep despair. They are all normal feelings when you have been bereaved.

• Give yourself time to work through your grief. It may take longer than you think.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

If you have any questions or would like to raise concerns about the quality of care received by your loved one in the lead up to, or at the time of their death, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service, who are there to support and assist you with any concerns you may have.

If you have any suggestions or compliments regarding the care provided to your loved one, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service would welcome the feedback. You can contact them on 01923 217198

Patient and Public Involvement

Bereavement Survey / discussion groups:

The staff aim to deliver a professional level of care at all times. Consequently we undertake a survey of the provision of care to the dying patient, and support for bereaved relatives and carers.

We recognise that this is a difficult time for you, but if you feel able to return the questionnaire we send you, this would help us greatly in evaluating and developing our responses to, and immediate support for, relatives and friends of those who have died within this hospital.

If you would prefer to talk with a member of staff, an interview based on the questionnaire can be arranged. Alternatively you may find it helpful to share your views and ideas with others who have had a similar experience. If so, we would like to invite you to attend a discussion group as part of the survey.

We hope you feel able to complete the questionnaire and return it in the pre-paid envelope provided.

You can be sure that however you choose to participate in this survey your responses will not only be treated in confidence but will be invaluable in helping us gain a greater awareness of the quality of care provided in this highly sensitive area of our work. It will assist us to improve the care we offer to relatives, friends and carers in future.

If you would like further information about Patient and Public Involvement please contact The Lead Nurse for Patient Experience - westherts.patientexperience@nhs.net

Bereavement Support Groups

The following support groups are there to offer bereavement care whenever it is needed. If you are unable to find the right support for you, or you need any further help, please contact: Spiritual & Pastoral Care Team, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Tel: 01923 217994

There is a voicemail. If you leave a message a member of the team will return your call.

ORGANISATION AND CONTACT DETAILS

Cruse Bereavement Care

National Helpline: 0808 808 1677

Local Helpline (Hertfordshire): 01707 278389

E-mail: helpline@cruse.org.uk

General E-mail:

office@cruse-hertfordshire.org.uk

Website: www.cruse.org.uk

The Peace Hospice Bereavement Service

Bereavement Advice Line: 01923 330330

Bereavement General Office Enquiry: 01923 330330

E-mail: info@peacehospicecare.org.uk

Website: www.peacehospice.org.uk

INFORMATION

Offers bereavement support to all in need, regardless of age, gender or culture.

Offers information, advice and support for anyone from South West Hertfordshire who has a bereavement enquiry; provides counselling, visits and children’s grief support programme (Stars).

Tel: 01923 224085

Provides bereavement support to people in the Watford area of any faith and none.

Watford Churches Bereavement Visitors Group

INFANT AND CHILD DEATH ADVICE AND SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS ORGANISATION AND CONTACT DETAILS

Babyloss

E-mail: support@babyloss.com

Website: www.babyloss.com

INFORMATION

An exclusively online resource for anyone whose life has been touched by pregnancy loss, stillbirth or neonatal death. Medical advice is not given.

The Multiple Births Foundation

Website: www.multiplebirths.org.uk

Child Death Helpline

Helpline: 0800 282 986

Open every day throughout the year

Monday, Thursday and Friday mornings

10.00 - 13.00

Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons

10.00 - 16.00

Every evening: 19.00 - 22.00

Website: www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk

Childhood Bereavement Network

Tel: 020 7843 6309

Website: www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk

Compassionate Friends

National Helpline: 0345 123 2304

Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk

Open 7 days a week 10.00 - 16.00 and 19.00 - 22.00

Website: www.tcf.org.uk

A freephone service for all affected by the death of a child. Staffed by bereaved parent volunteers. This is not a counselling service.

Provides access to information, guidance and support services for bereaved children, their families and carers.

An organisation of bereaved parents and their families helping others through their grief after the death of a child (at whatever age). Offers support by befriending, group, letter/email, newsletter, useful publications, postal library and a programme of informal weekend retreats and an annual weekend gathering.

ORGANISATION AND CONTACT DETAILS

CONI (Care of Next Infant)

Helpline: 0808 802 6868 / 6869

Monday - Friday 10.00 - 17.00

Website: www.lullabytrust.org.uk

Email: support@lullabytrust.org.uk

SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society)

Tel: 0808 164 3332

Website: www.sands.org.uk

Email: helpline@sands.org.uk

SPRING (Support for Parents and Relatives in Neonatal Grief)

Open meetings held 1st Wednesday of every month

Tel: 0300 019 8084 (24hr Voicemail)

Website: www.springsupport.org.uk

SIBBS (Support in Bereavement for Brothers and Sisters)

Helpline: 0345 123 2304

Open 7 days a week 10.00 -16.00 and 19.00 - 22.00

Website: www.tcf.org.uk

INFORMATION

Set up by FSID, CONI is a programme of advice, support and practical help for parents to help them work through fear following the sudden and unexpected death of a baby.

For parents who experience the loss of a baby during or after birth.

Counselling and befriending service providing support to parents and relatives who have experienced the loss of a baby before or around birth, including miscarriage, stillbirth and termination for fetal abnormality.

A sister organisation to Compassionate Friends.

A nationwide selfhelp support group for people who have experienced the death of a brother or sister. Offers the same support as Compassionate Friends (see separate entry page 17).

ORGANISATION AND CONTACT DETAILS

Stop Mail

Tel: 0808 168 9607,

Website: www.stopmail.co.uk

INFORMATION

This free of charge service provided by the Bereavement Support Network will actively reduce the unwanted marketing mail but also can help reduce the likelihood of identity theft following the death of someone close. The information is not used for any other purpose and you only have to complete this once. Additionally to Stop Mail a comparable service can also be accessed from the Bereavement Register or Deceased Preference Service if you would prefer to use them.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT ORGANISTIONS ORGANISATION AND CONTACT DETAILS

INFORMATION

Age UK

Hemel Hempstead (Dacorum area)

Tel: 01442 259049

Monday - Friday 09.00 - 16.00

Hertfordshire

Information Line: 0300 345 3446

Harrow and Pinner area

Tel: 0208 861 7980

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday

10.00 - 13.00

Bereavement Support Network

Freephone: 0808 168 9607

Website: bereavementadvice.co.uk

Offering practical advice on probate, tax and benefits.

ORGANISATION AND CONTACT DETAILS

Macmillan Cancer Support

Freephone: 0808 8080 000

Every day 08.00 - 20.00

Website: www.macmillan.org.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau

Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Advice line: 03444 111 444

Hemel Hempstead

Website: www.dacorumcab.org.uk

Watford

Website: www.cawatford.org.uk

Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 09.30 - 12.30

(drop in sessions)

Mon,Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri (telephone advice times) 10.00 - 16.00

Rickmansworth

Website: www.threeriverscab.org.uk

Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 10.00 - 16.00 (drop in sessions)

Tues 13.30 – 16.00 (Outreach session)

Abbots Langley

Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 10.00 - 16.00 (drop in sessions)

Oxhey and District

Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 10.00 - 16.00 (drop in sessions)

Every second Tues 11.00 – 13.00 only)

INFORMATION

A free nationwide telephone information and emotional support service for people with cancer, their relatives and friends.

ORGANISATION AND CONTACT DETAILS INFORMATION

CANCERi (Rennie Grove Hospice Care)

adjacent to St. Albans City Hospital

Helpline: 01727 731000

Tuesday 09.00 - 13.00 (drop in centre)

Website: www.renniegrove.org

Cruse Bereavement Care - Hope

Again

Freephone helpline: 0808 808 1677

Mon - Fri 09.30 - 17.00

Website: www.hopeagain.org.uk

Department for Work and Pensions

Benefits (income support)

Bereavement Benefit

Social Fund

Tel: 0800 731 0469

Harrow Bereavement Care

Tel: 0208 427 5720

Monday, Wed, Thurs 08.00 - 15.00 24 hour answer phone

Website: www.bereavementcareandsupport.co.uk

Email: admin@bereavementcareandsupport.co.uk

Link Youth Counselling Service

Tel: 01895 277222

Monday - Friday 10.30 - 19.30

Cancer bereavement advice for family, carers and friends.

A website designed by young people for young people who have been bereaved. Also has details of a confidential telephone number for professional confidential bereavement counselling.

Support for people on low incomes.

Support, information, home visits.

Counselling services for 14-25 year olds. Free and confidential. Based in the Hillingdon area, but will offer contact numbers for people in other areas.

ORGANISATION AND CONTACT DETAILS INFORMATION

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service

Tel: 0208 951 3881

Email: enquiries@jbcs.org.uk

Website: www.jbcs.org.uk

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard

24 hour telephone service

(not voicemail)

Tel: 0300 330 0630

Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre for cancer support and information, Mount Vernon Hospital

Tel: 0203 826 2555

Monday - Friday 09.30 - 16.30

www.ljmc.org

Macmillan Cancer information and support centre at Watford General Hospital

Monday - Friday 10.00 - 16.00

Tel: 01923 436326 (out of hours

answerphone)

Email: fiona.mcnab@whht.nhs.uk

Samaritans

Tel: 116 123

24 hour service

For those who have experienced the suicide of someone close to them.

Helpline: 0300 111 5065

Website: www.uksobs.org

Email: email.support@uksobs.org

Bereavement support for lesbian and gay people.

Free drop in and telephone information service for cancer patients and their carers.

Offers confidential telephone support for all in despair.

ORGANISATION AND CONTACT DETAILS INFORMATION

Support Line for all faiths

Helpline: 01708 765200

(hours vary, please ring for details)

Email: info@supportline.org.uk

Website: www.supportline.org.uk

WAY Widowed and Young

Website: www.widowedandyoung.org.uk

Watford African Carribean Association

Holywell Comminity Centre, Chaffinch

Lane, Watford, WD18 9QD

Tel: 01923 750975

Email: hello@wacas.org.uk

Website: www.wacas.org.uk

Watford Asian Community Care Lemarie Centre, 524 St Albans Road, Watford WD24 7WF

Email: admin@wa-cc.org.uk

Funeral Directors

Provides a self-help social support network for men and women who are bereaved and young.

Please ask Patient Affairs if you would like a list of local Funeral Directors.

Equality and Diversity at the Trust

We actively promote equality and diversity throughout the Trust; and we respect all faiths, religions, beliefs and also people of no religious belief. We ensure to provide access to all our services and tailor our services in order to meet the needs of the service users and their relatives. Should you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Equality and Diversity Manager.

The Trust is committed to promoting an environment that values diversity. All staff are responsible for ensuring that all patients and their carers are treated equally and fairly and not discriminated against on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity or any other unjustifiable reason in the application of this policy, and recognising the need to work in partnership with and seek guidance from other agencies and services to ensure that special needs are met.

Please note that inclusion in this booklet of any product or service does not imply endorsement by the Trust.

Date of Publication: May 2023

The Hospital would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from services o ering their help at this time.

Whilst the Hospital is grateful of their support it does not endorse or recommend any of the services that they provide.

used

any

purpose. Other benefits reduce the possibility of identity fraud, such as assumed identity and you will only have to supply the information once.

This publication has been jointly developed between ourselves and the hospital. We hope that it has been or will be of help at this time and we welcome any comments or suggestions that you may have.

Please contact us either by phone, email or by post.