Useful contact details
Switchboard
0208 510 5555
Ward name: .....................................................................................................................
Ward telephone number:
Name of ward sister/lead nurse: ......................................................................
Bereavement Administrator
0208 510 7150
Foreword
This booklet provides information and guidance for relatives and carers following a bereavement. We hope that its contents are of help to you.
It has been divided into two parts.
• Part one gives advice on the immediate practical tasks that need to be undertaken following a bereavement.
• Part two gives information on bereavement and grief, with contact numbers and advice for ongoing support for you and your family.
Hospital staff are here to help you in any way we can. We will try to answer your questions and want to offer you the support you need.
Part 1: Immediate practical tasks
A: Bereavement Office & Medical Examiner
We understand that this is a very distressing time for you and that there are many things that you will now have to organise. We hope that the guidance given here will make things easier for you.
The hospital’s Bereavement staff are available to offer help and advice to guide you through the next few days, and to ensure that the practical arrangements are handled in a sensitive and timely manner.
Hospital staff are aware that every loss is unique and that everybody grieves differently. Staff are also aware of the particular religious needs of the larger faith-groups in Hackney and will try to respond with utmost diligence and care.
Before a death can be registered, a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) must be completed by a doctor. The Bereavement staff will ensure that this is completed as soon as possible.
The Medical Examiner is a senior doctor who was not involved in the care of your loved one. The Medical Examiner provides an independent review of the cause of death and whether a coroner referral is needed.
The cause of death will be written on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). The Medical Examiner and their staff can explain what the medical language means and make it easy for you to understand. They will ask you whether you have any questions or concerns about the cause of death, or about the care the person received before their death. This will usually be through a telephone call, or sometimes a meeting. If there are issues with care that need further investigation, the Medical Examiner will refer these to someone who can do this. As well as answering your questions, this can help the NHS provide better care for other patients and carers in future.
In some situations, the hospital cannot issue the MCCD and has to refer to the Coroner. For more details please refer to page 8.
What you need to do
Please telephone the Bereavement Office on 0208 510 7150 between 10am and 3.30pm Monday - Friday. The office is closed at weekends and on bank holidays. The Bereavement staff will wait for you to contact them when you feel ready to do so.
Please do not come to the hospital unless you have been told to by Bereavement staff.
The Bereavement staff will explain:
• the process for obtaining the paperwork required for registering the death with Hackney Registrars
• the process for arranging an appointment with Hackney Registrars
• the paperwork you will receive from the Registrars
It is a legal requirement to register every death within five days, unless the Coroner has been involved. Please refer to page 6 to see what information you need to provide to register the death.
When you feel ready, you can start making funeral arrangements by contacting a Funeral Director of your choice. This can be done before or after your appointment with the Registrar. Please see page 12 for further details.
Personal belongings
You need to be a relative to be able to collect the deceased’s personal belongings. Please contact the Property Office on 0208 510 7240 to make arrangements.
Informing the GP
The Bereavement Administrator will write to the deceased patient’s GP (family doctor) to inform them of the death.
Viewing your loved one
When a patient dies in the hospital, they will be taken to the mortuary where they will remain until they are collected by the Funeral Director. The Viewing Room is situated in the Bereavement Suite.
Viewings can be arranged if specifically requested. You can either discuss this with the Bereavement staff or liaise directly with the Mortuary Officer on 0208 510 7041. Outside of office hours, you are advised to contact the ward where the patient was last cared for, who will be able to advise whether they are able to accommodate a viewing out-of-hours.
You will, of course, also be able to pay your last respects at the Funeral Director’s Chapel of Rest, where they have specialist facilities. Please discuss this with the Funeral Director when you are making the funeral arrangements.
Multi-faith Chaplaincy Team: providing spiritual and religious support
Chaplains are faith-leaders from various faiths and denominations, who are appointed by the hospital to offer emotional support to people of all faiths and none. Chaplains can also offer religious guidance and advice after a patient has died. If you are feeling distressed and think it would help for a Chaplain to be alongside you, please let any member of staff know, or contact the Chaplains directly on 0208 510 7773.
B: Registering the death
The Bereavement staff will explain the process for arranging an appointment with the Registrar. All deaths must be registered at the Registry Office in the borough where your relative died. You must register the death within five days, unless the Coroner has been involved. All deaths that occur at Homerton University Hospital must be registered at:
Registration Services
Hackney Service Centre
1 Hillman Street
London E8 1DY
Phone: 0208 356 3355
Email: registrars@hackney.gov.uk
Website: www.hackney.gov.uk/deaths.htm
Please telephone 0208 356 3355 for opening hours, particularly at weekends and public holidays.
The Hackney Service Centre is situated directly behind Hackney Town Hall.
Who can register the death?
A death can be registered by a relative of the deceased, by someone who was present at the death, or by the person responsible for making the funeral arrangements (not the Funeral Director).
Information required by the Registrars
• Full name of the deceased (including maiden name if this applies)
• Date and place of death
• Date and place of birth
• Address
• Last occupation (including if retired)
• If married, the full name, date of birth and occupation of any surviving widow or widower
Documents you will receive from the Registrar
• A Certificate of Registration of Death will be provided; Form BD8 (white form). This can be used by a spouse to claim bereavement benefits.
• A ‘Tell Us Once’ leaflet. This contains a telephone number, which you can call to cancel all government related services, such as DWP (Department for Work and Pensions), HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs) and HM Passport Office etc.
• A Certificate of Burial or Cremation known as the Form 14 (green form). This may be sent directly to the Funeral Director or to you to pass on.
The Death Certificate
• The Death Certificate is an official copy of the entry in the Death Register.
• There is a fee for each Death Certificate. You can only pay by credit or debit card. Additional certificates may be purchased at a later date.
Death Certificates might be needed for:
• banks/building societies
• insurance companies
• premium bonds
• private pensions
• housing associations
C: The Coroner, sudden deaths and post-mortems
The role of the Coroner
In certain situations the hospital cannot issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), but has to refer the death to the Coroner. The Coroner is a doctor or lawyer responsible for investigating deaths in any of the following circumstances:
• an accident or injury
• an industrial disease
• if a patient dies during surgery or before recovering from an anaesthetic
• if the cause of death is unknown
• if the death may have been related to a medical procedure or treatment
• if the death is unnatural or suspicious
In many of these cases the Coroner may be the only person who can certify the cause of death. Often the Coroner will need examinations to be carried out on the body to explain the cause of death. This may include a post-mortem examination. As these investigations are not carried out at the hospital, the Coroner will arrange for the body to be moved to another mortuary. The Coroner’s decisions are legally binding, which means that the hospital has to fully comply.
The Coroner’s Officers will make direct contact with the next-of-kin to answer questions and provide guidance. The Coroner’s Officers will also issue all of the paperwork, instead of the hospital.
Sudden deaths in the A&E department
Often, when patients die in the Emergency Department, their death is unexpected and may need to be referred to the Coroner. The doctor referring the death will seek senior guidance – usually during the next working day – as to whether or not they can issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. If not, the Coroner may ask the GP (family doctor) to complete the certificate or they may wish to investigate the death further. Please read the section on “The role of the Coroner”, page 8 and the chapter on “Post-mortem examinations”, below.
The staff of the Emergency Department can be contacted on 0208 510 7573 or 0208 510 7125, and are available to you 24 hours a day. Please ring this number if you have any unanswered questions.
Coroner’s post-mortem
A Coroner’s post-mortem examination is performed by an independent pathologist, who has been instructed by the Coroner to establish the cause of death. This type of postmortem is a legal requirement and will not need the bereaved family’s consent. The next-of-kin cannot prevent a Coroner’s post-mortem, even if it conflicts with the family’s faith-tradition.
Hospital post-mortem
A doctor may ask relatives for a hospital post-mortem, if they feel that additional information can be gained. This postmortem is not compulsory and relatives have the right to refuse. If the relatives agree, a doctor will explain to them, in detail, what a hospital post-mortem entails and will require written consent. A hospital post-mortem can also be requested by the relatives of the deceased. Please discuss this with Bereavement staff if you would like to explore this option.
D: Tissue donation
Most people are aware that hundreds of lives are saved every year by donated organs, such as hearts and kidneys. Many people do not realise that donated tissues such as skin, bone, and heart valves can dramatically improve the quality of life for others, and even save them. As many as 50 people can be helped from the donation of one person.
Which tissues can be donated?
Eyes: Eyes can help restore sight to people with cornea problems (the clear part of the eye). This may be a result of damage caused by eye disease or injury, or defects from birth, and the white part of the eye (the sclera) can be used in operations to rebuild the eye.
Heart valves: Heart valves can be transplanted to save the lives of children born with heart defects, and adults with damaged heart valves.
Skin: Skin can be used as a natural dressing, helping to treat people with serious burns. This can save lives by stopping infections, can help to reduce scarring and reduces pain.
Bone: Bone is important for people receiving artificial joint replacements, or replacing bone that has been removed due to illness or injury. It helps reduce pain and improve mobility.
Tendons: Tendons, the elastic-like cords that attach bones and muscles to each other, can be donated to help rebuild damaged joints, which helps people move more easily.
Can we choose which tissues to donate?
Yes. Only those tissues for which you have given permission will be donated.
Is there an age limit to tissue donation?
There are no age restrictions for bone, skin and eyes. However, heart valves and tendons can only be donated up to the age of 60.
Can anyone become a tissue donor?
Almost anyone can be considered for tissue donation, however, there are some rare exemptions. To ensure that all donated tissues are safe, the donor’s medical and lifestyle history is assessed similar to blood donors, to protect the person receiving the tissue from infection.
How long after death can tissue be donated?
The best time is within 24 hours after someone has died. However, sometimes it is possible to donate up to 48 hours after death.
For further information and advice, please contact Tissues National Referral Centre 0800 432 0559.
E: Funeral arrangements
Arranging the funeral
A list of local Funeral Directors can be found within this booklet. Funeral Directors are employed to make all of the arrangements for the funeral, on the instruction of the family. It is not essential to employ a Funeral Director. Some families choose to arrange the funeral themselves, however, please be aware there are strict guidelines which must be followed. You can start making the funeral arrangements, as soon as you feel able to. If you choose to appoint a Funeral Director, they will:
• help you make all necessary arrangements and liaise between the various organisations, such as the cemetery/crematorium and hospital.
• ensure all the correct paperwork is issued, so that the funeral can be held.
• discuss the funeral service with you. They will map out your options and choices and associated costs.
• help you appoint a faith-leader or non-religious celebrant to lead the service.
Paying for the funeral
The cost of a funeral can vary a lot. Before making any arrangements you should check how the funeral will be paid for. The deceased may have contributed to a scheme or policy. They may have savings, a prepaid funeral plan or life insurance policies.
It is a good idea to contact more than one Funeral Director to get an idea of the cost of a funeral. Do not be afraid to discuss with the Funeral Director ways of reducing costs. You might be able to seek financial help if you are receiving:
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit (disability element)
• Child Tax Credit
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit To apply, call 0800 151 2012 or visit www.gov.uk/funeral-payments
Cremations
The Bereavement staff may ask you whether you are planning a burial or cremation service. If a cremation is chosen then cremation paperwork needs to be issued. The Bereavement staff will arrange for the hospital’s medical staff to complete the necessary forms.
If you are appointing undertakers to organise the funeral, they will arrange to collect these from the hospital. The fees for cremation papers will be included in the funeral bill.
Repatriation
If you wish to repatriate the body (move the body to another country for the funeral), it is vital that you discuss this with the Bereavement Office staff, the Registrar, and also an Undertaker, as various additional papers have to be issued. Most commonly, a “Free from Infection” (FFI) document has to be issued by the hospital, for which there is a fee, and an “Out of England” Order must be issued by the Coroner. The “Out of England” Order can take up to four working days to be produced by the Coroner.
Part 2: Further Support
The death of someone who was important to you is one of the hardest experiences you will have in your life.
There are no right and wrong reactions to death. We all need to grieve in our own time and way. For some this might mean crying but others may express their grief in different ways. You may find that you are experiencing a whole variety of unexpected thoughts, feelings and sometimes physical symptoms.
If you are feeling concerned about yourself or others, it is a good idea to contact your GP (family doctor).
A: Organisations which may be of help
We have listed some organisations who might be helpful for you during this difficult time.
Information and advice
Age UK
Information and advice on a range of topics for the over 60s www.ageuk.org.uk
0800 678 1602
Benefits and financial support www.gov.uk/browse/benefits
Bereavement Advice
Information on a range of topics following a death www.bereavementadvice.co.uk
0808 168 9607
Citizens Advice Bureau
Advice on range of issues, including housing, welfare, debt and more
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
0800 144 8848
Coroner’s Office
0207 538 1201
Down to Earth
Support and guidance in planning an affordable funeral, for those in financial need
www.quakersocialaction.org.uk/we-can-help/helping-funerals/ down-earth
0208 983 5030
Dying Matters
Raising awareness of dying, death and bereavement www.hospiceuk.org/our-campaigns/dying-matters
Funeral Payments (SF200)
You may qualify for help towards the cost of a funeral if you are on a low income
www.gov.uk/funeral-payments
0800 151 2012
Hackney Council
Registering a death, ordering copies of death certificates, protection of property www.hackney.gov.uk/deaths
Inheritance Tax
www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax
Macmillan Cancer Support
Information, practical advice and support related to cancer
www.macmillan.org.uk
0808 808 0000
National Association of Funeral Directors
Find a funeral director who is a member of NAFD
www.nafd.org.uk
0121 711 1343
National Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors
Find a funeral director who is a member of SAIF www.saif.org.uk
01279 726777
NHS Choices
Symptoms, conditions, medicines, treatments and access to local services
www.nhs.uk
111 (24 hours, non-emergency)
NHS Organ Donation Register
Information about organ donation and register to donate your organs
www.organdonation.nhs.uk
0300 123 2323
Stop Mail
Helping to stop unwanted mail being sent to the address of the deceased
www.stopmail.co.uk
0808 168 9607
Wills, Probate and Inheritance
www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate
Emotional support, counselling and mental health
Asian Family Counselling Service
Aimed at all members of the South Asian communities aged over 16
www.asianfamilycounselling.org
0208 574 0912
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Resource for finding a therapist or counsellor near you www.bacp.co.uk
01455 88 3300
City and East London Bereavement Service
Counselling service for individuals and couples resident in Tower Hamlets www.celbs.org.uk
0203 022 5177
Claudia Jones Organisation
Culturally sensitive services, including psychotherapy, for women and families of African Caribbean heritage www.claudiajones.org
0207 241 1646
Counselling Directory
Find a counsellor or psychotherapist near you www.counselling-directory.org.uk
0333 325 2500
Cruse Bereavement Care
Support, advice and information for children, young people and adults when someone dies www.cruse.org.uk
0808 808 1677
Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service
Bereavement counselling for children and adults from the entire spectrum of Jewish practice and observance www.jbcs.org.uk
0208 951 3881
London Friend
Counselling services for the LGB&T community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans) www.londonfriend.org.uk/counselling/
0207 833 1674
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Care, guidance and support for those living with a terminal illness, and their families www.mariecurie.org.uk
0800 090 2309
Mind Infoline
Information on a range of topics relating to mental health www.mind.org.uk
0300 123 3393
Samaritans
Free 24 hour phone line to talk about anything that is troubling you
www.samaritans.org
116 123
St. Joseph’s Hospice Bereavement Service
Bereavement counselling and support available to residents of Hackney, City of London, Haringey and Islington who are aged 18 and over www.stjh.org.uk/our-care/counselling-and-advice/ bereavement-service/
0300 303 0400
The Good Grief Trust
Run by the bereaved to raise awareness of the impact of grief and to bring bereavement services together www.thegoodgrieftrust.org
Victim Support
Emotional support and practical information for anyone affected by a crime committed against themselves or someone they know www.victimsupport.org.uk
0808 168 9111
WAY Widowed & Young
Peer-to-peer support group for men and women aged 50 or under when their partner died www.widowedandyoung.org.uk
0300 201 0051
Way Up
Self-help group and support network for those widowed in their 50s and 60s www.way-up.co.uk
Children and young people
Child Bereavement UK
Support and information for families when a baby or child dies, or when a child is facing bereavement
www.childbereavementuk.org
0800 028 8840
Child Death Helpline
Helpline staffed by bereaved parents for anyone affected by the death of a child
www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk
0800 282 986
City and Hackney Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Services for children and young people with mental health problems
www.cityandhackneycamhs.org.uk
Hope Again
A safe place where young people who are facing grief can share their stories with others
www.hopeagain.org.uk
0808 808 1677
Richard House Children’s Hospice
Care and support for children and young adults with a life-limiting or life-threatening illness, plus their families, carers and loved ones
www.richardhouse.org.uk
0207 540 0243
Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)
Emotional support and information for anybody affected by the death of a baby before, during, or shortly after birth
www.sands.org.uk
0808 164 3332
The Compassionate Friends (TCF)
Support and information for bereaved parents and their families after a child dies
www.tcf.org.uk
0345 123 2304
Winston’s Wish
Support and information for children following a bereavement, and for those caring for a bereaved child www.winstonswish.org
0808 802 0021
B: Funeral Directors
The list below has been compiled as a helpful guide to funeral directors in Hackney and the surrounding boroughs. Further information about these and other funeral directors can be found on the internet.
African Caribbean Funeral Services: 0207 275 0175
99 Stoke Newington Church Street N16 0UD
M. M. Broad & Son: 0208 003 1593
12 Woodside Lane N12 8RE
Brooks Funerals: 0208 441 6062 16-18 Church Hill Road EN4 8TB
Carmel Funeral Services (Jewish): 0208 880 1655
5 Fairholt Road N16 5EN
Chandu Tailor & Son (Sikh and Hindu): 0208 361 6151
13 Lower Park Road N11 1QD
Co-operative Funeralcare: 0208 985 5861
191A Mare Street E8 3QE
T. Cribb & Sons: 0208 003 2739
46 Dalston Lane E8 3AH
Demetriou & English: 0208 889 9888 131-133 Myddleton Road, Wood Green N22 8NG
W. English & Son: 0203 733 4229
464A Bethnal Green Road E2 0EA
Floyd & Son: 0208 500 7475
Aaron House, 8 Hainault Business Park Forest Road IG6 3JP
Haji Taslim (Muslim):
96 Whitechapel Road E1 1JQ
Hayes & English: 0207 608 6574
148 Hoxton Street N1 6SH
James Hawes & Goodchild: 0208 985 4231
216 Well Street E9 6QT
Leverton & Sons:
212 Eversholt Street NW1 1BD
W. G. Miller:
93-95 Essex Road N1 2SJ G. R. Moss & Co: 0208 131 9604
209 Lower Clapton Road E5 8EG A & C Tadman: 0207 739 5182
452 Bethnal Green Road E2 0EA The Heartfelt Funeral Company: 0203 750 2532
132 Snakes Lane East IG8 7HZ Thereafter Funeral Services:
Disclaimer
The Trust is not affiliated to any of the funeral directors listed and is not responsible for the services provided.
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from services offering their help at this time.
Whilst Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is grateful of their support it does not endorse or recommend any of the services that they provide.
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stopping mail
STOPPING JUNK MAIL
It is distressing to deal with a bereavement and unsolicited mail can be insensitive and destructive during a grieving process.
By scanning the below QR code on your phone or visiting www.stopmail.co.uk, we are able to securely share this information with mailing organisations and under the Data Protection Act the information will not be used for any other purpose.
Other benefits reduce the possibility of identity fraud, such as assumed identity and you will only have to supply the information once.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS can provide information and support to patients and carers and will listen to your concerns, suggestions or queries. The service is available between 9am and 5pm.
0208 510 7315 07584 445 400
huh-tr.pals.service@nhs.net
If you require this information in other languages, large print, audio or Braille please telephone the Patient Information Team on 0208 510 5302, text: 07584 445 400 or email: huh-tr.patientinformation@nhs.net
0208 510 5555 www.homerton.nhs.uk huh-tr.enquiries@nhs.net
Review date: April 2023 Next review: April 2025