STOPPING JUNK MAIL

from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary Bereavement Book

Guidance for relatives and friends of those who have died in hospital

We offer our deepest condolences at this sad time. If you need help in any way, please do not hesitate to ask. If you wish to see your loved one after their death, please contact the ward or department where your friend/relative died and they will help make the necessary arrangements. You may have some unanswered questions, or wish to talk to staff involved in the care of your friend/relative. You can speak to the staff directly or contact the Patient Advice and Complaint Service (0800 013 0018).

As well as having to cope with your grief, there are many things to organise. We hope the information in this booklet will help you. It should be read in conjunction with the Department of Social Security booklet “What to do after a Death in England & Wales”, which gives detailed advice. A copy of this is available from the Registrar or General Office.

Our Hospital Chapel, Prayer Room and Quiet Room are situated in the Hope Centre in the main entrance to the Infirmary. Our Hospital Chaplains, who are from different denominations and faiths, are also available to offer and help and support, phone 01484 342092.

Personal Care after Death

Your loved one will be treated with respect and cared for after they have died, but it will be necessary to move them to the hospital mortuary within 4 hours of death.

Arrangements for viewing or releasing your loved one are as followed:-

For deaths in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary

Ring switchboard on 01484 342000:

Monday - Friday 08.00 - 12.00 Ask for the Mortuary Saturday - Sunday 09.00 - 13.00 Ask for the Viewing Team

Bank Holidays 09.00 - 13.00 Ask for the Viewing Team

NB. Appointments must be made by contacting the Mortuary Staff or the Viewing Team only

What to do when someone dies

The Funeral Arrangements

It is important that you contact the funeral director of your choice as soon as possible, so that you can receive appropriate help and advice.

If your loved one is to be taken out of the country then you must inform the Coroner’s Office on 01274 373721 of your plans. You will be unable to remove your loved one until this has been done. If you are on low income and you are having problems with the cost of the funeral, the social fund may be able to help you. The social fund is part of the Benefits Agency - contact the Department of Work and Pensions, telephone number 0345 604 3719.

The Medical Certificate

You need to obtain a Medical Certificate showing the cause of death so that you can register the death.

If the Coroner is not involved, (see ‘the Coroner’ on the following page) you should telephone the General Office at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary on 01484 342310 after 11am on the next working day. They will advise you when the Medical Certificate will be ready for collection. This is to save you a wasted journey. Once informed the Certificate is ready you can then collect this from the General Office at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary between the hours of 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm.

To find your way to the General Office, please ask at the Main Enquiry Desk within the main entrance of the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

The Coroner

In some cases it may not be possible for the hospital doctor to issue a Medical Certificate (eg if the death is referred to the Coroner). The Coroner is a qualified doctor or lawyer who has the task of enquiring into a death in certain circumstances. For example, where the medical cause of death is unknown, the Coroner has the power to order a post mortem if necessary. If your relative or friend’s death has been referred to the Coroner, the Coroner’s Officer will contact you very soon to give advice and support. You can telephone the Coroner’s Office - telephone number 01274 373721.

Registering the death

Registration can take place at either Huddersfield Register Office or Dewsbury Register Office.

The address is:

Huddersfield Register Office, The Town Hall, Ramsden Street, HD1 2TA (01484 221030) (entrance on Corporation Street) (Please see location map on page 6).

Dewsbury Register Office, The Town Hall, Wakefield Old Road, WF12 8DG (01924 324733)

Opening Hours for both offices by appointment only:

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm Saturday 9.00am - 12.00pm Please telephone the office of your choice to make an appointment to register the death or book online at: http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/registration You will need an email address to book online.

The death must be registered in the district where the death occurred, as soon as possible, usually within five days. From 1st April 2016 no cash will be taken, payment will be by either debit or credit card only.

Registrar’s Office location map

ALDER ST ORTHERN ST GREAT N

BECK RDWILLOW LN ST JOHN’S RDCAMBRIDGE RD G A TE SLIP CASTL E

Huddersfield Rail

A62 A62

A629

CEMETERY RD BLACKER RD N NEW N RD

EDGERTON RD A629

EDGERTON GROVE RD A640

SOUTHGATE

JOHN WILLIAM ST

TRINITY ST PARK DR

Kirklees College

KIRKGATE

S T T R I N I T Y QUEENS G A T E ALBION ST MARKET ST CROSS CHURCH ST HIGH ST PRINCESSST PEEL ST RAMSDEN ST ALBERT STRegistrars Office Huddersfield TOWN HALL Ramsden St. HD1 2TA (entrance Corporation Street)

CASTLEGATE SLIP

A640

PARK AVE SPRING ST

P A R K DR S GLEDHOLT RD Greenhead Park GREENHEAD RD Greenhead College SPRING WOOD AVE GLEDHOLT BANK

THORNHILL RD CLEVELAND RDRUMBOLD RD IMPERIAL RDSUNNY BANK RD R D

W E S T B O U R N E GRASMERE RD CLIFTON RD BLACK ELDON RDELDON RDDUDLEY RD HEATON RD

OCCUPATION RD

REED ST LUCK LN

SAVILLE RD ACRE ST D NEW HEY RD HEATHERFIELD RD BROOMFIELD RD LUCK LNSMITHS AVE WELLFIELD RD CARR ST ROSE AVE HAYWOOD AVE REINWOOD R W OODLEA AVE WYVER N AV E THORNHILL AVE A640 Huddersfield Royal Infirmary HEAT O N G A R D E N S MARK ST CHURCH ST

HEATON RD BRANCH ST

LARCH RDFIR RD

Information you will be asked to provide when you register the death

The person who registers the death, should, where possible be able to supply the following information about the deceased:

• The full name and surname (and maiden name if the deceased was a woman who married). • Date and place of birth. • The occupation (and if the deceased was married or a widow/widower the name and occupation of their spouse). • The usual address. • Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds. • If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower.

If available, the deceased person’s medical card should be handed to the Registrar.

The Registrar will provide:

• You with a Death Certificate(s) at a cost of £11.00 You may need extra copies for insurance purposes, bank accounts or pensions. The Registrar will advise you about this.

These will also be charged at £11.00 per copy. • A form which authorises burial or application for cremation.

You should take this form to a Funeral Director.

Tell Us Once Service

The Register Office can help you to give the information to the Department for Work and Pensions and they can pass this information on to a number of government departments and local council services. Once you have registered the death, the Registrar will provide you with a ‘Tell Us Once’ service reference number. There are a number of ways you can use this service: • Online – www.gov.uk/tell-us-once and using the reference number.

• Telephone – If you would prefer to speak to someone, please call the Department for Work and Pensions on 0800 085 7308. The lines are open Monday to Friday 8.00am – 6.00pm. This number is free to call from a BT landline, however other providers, including mobile phone providers, may charge you. If you don’t speak English, one of our advisors and an interpreter will call you back.

Which organisations will be notified?

If you decide to use the ‘Tell Us Once’ service, the following departments and organisations may be notified.

Local Council services

• Council housing • Housing and council tax benefit • Council tax department • Libraries • Blue badges • Adult social care • Collection of payments for council services • Electoral services

Government organisations

• Department for Work and Pensions – Includes: State

Pension, Pension Credits, Attendance Allowance,

Disability Living Allowance, Jobseekers Allowance,

Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support

• HM Revenue and Customs – Includes: Personal Taxation,

Child Benefit, Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits

• Identity and Passport Service

• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

• Ministry of Defence, Service Personnel and Veterans

Agency

Information you will need when you are ready to use this service.

It will be helpful if you have the following information: • Death Certificate and the ‘Tell Us Once’ reference number.

• The deceased person’s passport, or passport number (if they have one).

• The deceased person’s driving licence, or licence number (if they have one).

• Date of Birth and if you have it, their National Insurance

Number.

• Details of any benefits or services they were receiving, if any.

• Name and address of the next of kin.

• Name and address of the person dealing with the estate if different from the next of kin.

• Details of Blue Badge if necessary.

• Details of any recent stays in hospitals, hospice or care home.

• Details of any Concessionary Travel Pass.

The information that is given will be treated securely and confidentially. The organisations that are contacted will use the information to update records, to end services, benefits and credits provided, as appropriate, or to start up services. They may use the information in other ways, but only as the law allows.

Who to inform about the death

When someone dies there will be many organisations to contact. Accounts must be closed or cancelled, insurance claimed or details changed. Subscriptions, agreements, payments or direct debits dealt with. Please use the following as guidance to see if you have contacted everyone you need: q accountant q insurance providers q bank/building society q internet providers q benefits agency q landlord q bereavement register (to q library remove name from mailing lists) q local authority (re: rental q car registration documents parking permits) q child benefit office q life insurance q child’s school, or childcare q local Co-operative Share provider Dividend Office q church or other place of worship q mail for re-direction q clubs and social groups q mortgage provider q council tax office q motoring breakdown policy q credit card companies q motoring insurance q creditors (anyone owed money) q national insurance contributions q debtors (anyone owing money) q passport office q dentist q pension plans q driving licence q Premium Bond Office q doctors q professional bodies q DVLA (to return driving licence q private healthcare sector and cancel car tax) q relatives and friends q employers q solicitor q hire purchase / loan companies q TV licence q home help agency q telephone provider (landline and q hospital clinics mobile) q household insurance q utilities (gas, electric and water) q income tax office q vehicle registration

Stopping Junk Mail to the recently deceased.

If someone you know has died, the amount of unwanted marketing post being sent to them can be greatly reduced which helps to stop painful daily reminders.

By registering with the free service www.stopmail.co.uk the names and addresses of the deceased are removed from mailing lists, stopping most advertising mail within as little as six weeks. If you cannot access the internet you can call 0808 168 9607, where you will be asked for very simple information that will take only a few minutes to complete. Alternatively, ask the bereavement team for a leaflet that can be returned in the post.

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.

Property, possessions and personal matters

You should find out if the deceased person made a Will to see what their wishes are. The Will also discloses the names of the executors or the persons legally entitled to deal with the deceased person’s estate. A Solicitor could assist the executors with the administration of the estate and any questions relating to taxation that may arise.

Cremation and burial

There are certain forms that you will be required to sign.

No one can be cremated until the cause of death is definitely known.

In the case of burial there will normally be a request for a pre-arranged grave space in a churchyard or cemetery. The Funeral Director will advise you on all these issues.

Reviews of deaths in our care

Case record reviews are carried out in different circumstances. Firstly, case note reviews are routinely carried out by NHS trusts on a proportion of all their deaths to learn, develop and improve healthcare, as well as when a problem in care may be suspected.

A clinician (usually a doctor), who was not directly involved in the care, will look carefully at the case notes. They will look at each aspect of their care and how well it was provided. When a routine review finds any issues with a patient’s care, we contact their family to discuss this further.

Secondly, we also carry out case note reviews when a significant concern is raised with us about the care we provided to a patient. We consider a ‘significant concern’ to mean:

(a) any concerns raised by the family that cannot be answered at the time; or

(b) anything that is not answered to the family’s satisfaction or which does not reassure them.

This may happen when a death is sudden, unexpected, untoward or accidental. When a significant concern has been raised, we will undertake a case record review for your loved one and share our findings with you.

Aside from case note reviews, there are specific processes and procedures that trusts need to follow if your loved one had a learning disability; is a child; died in a maternity setting; or as a result of a mental health related homicide. If this is the case, we will provide you with the relevant details on these processes.

Investigations

In a small percentage of cases, there may be concerns that the death could be or is related to a patient safety incident. A patient safety incident is any unintended or unexpected incident, which could have, or did, lead to harm for one or more patients receiving healthcare. Where there is a concern that a patient safety incident may have contributed to a patient’s death, a safety investigation should be undertaken. The purpose of a safety investigation is to find out what happened and why. This is to identify any potential learning and to reduce the risk of something similar happening to any other patients in the future. If an investigation is to be held, we will inform you and explain the process to you.

Providing feedback, raising concerns and/or making a complaint

Providing feedback: We want to hear your thoughts about your loved one’s care. Receiving feedback from families helps us to understand (i) the things we are doing right and need to continue; and (ii) the things we need to improve.

Raising concerns: It is very important to us that you feel able to ask any questions or raise any concerns regarding the care your loved one received. In the first instance, the team that cared for your loved one should be able to respond to these. However, if you would prefer to speak to someone who was not directly involved in your loved one’s care, our Patient Advice and Complaint Service (PALS) team will be able to help and can be contacted on 0800 013 0018 or patientadvice@cht.nhs.uk.

Making a complaint: We will do our best to respond to any questions or concerns that you have. Additionally you can raise concerns as a complaint, at any point. If you do this we will ensure that we respond, in an accessible format (followed by a response in writing where appropriate to your needs), to the issues you have raised. Our Patient Advice and Complaint Service (PALS) team will advise of our complaints procedure and can be contacted on 0800 013 0018 or patientadvice@cht.nhs.uk.

Bereavement is a distressing experience that all of us encounter at some time in our lives. Yet it is something that is talked about very little in our everyday life. This means that we have very little opportunity to learn about how to cope with loss. Different people react to bereavement in different ways. Some people can get stuck in the grieving process. This book is designed to help with such eventualities as well as suggesting associations that can help you to plan for the future.

Grieving

Grieving is a natural process that can take place after any kind of loss. The grief after a loved one dies can be a very overpowering emotion that has to run its course. There is a whole succession of different feelings that can take some time to go through and must not be hurried.

Although people are all different, the order in which they go through these feelings is very similar.

For some hours or days following the death of someone who is close, most people feel totally stunned. A feeling of disbelief is common, even if the death has been expected, (say after a long period of illness). However, this feeling of emotional numbness can actually be a help in dealing with the various practical arrangements that have to be made. If this detachment from reality goes on for too long, though, it can become a problem.

One way of overcoming this can be going to see the person who has died. Sometimes it is not until the actual funeral that the reality of what has happened finally sinks in.

It is important to say goodbye to the ones we loved. Attending the funeral or seeing the body is a way of saying goodbye. In some cases, people who did not do this have a great feeling of regret for years to come. But no-one should feel they have to go to the funeral or see the body if they don’t want to. Each person should only do what feels right for them.

After the feeling of emotional numbness has gone it is often replaced by a sense of agitation and a yearning for the person who has died. This can affect the bereaved in their everyday life, it may be difficult to relax, concentrate or even sleep properly.

Some people experience extremely disturbing dreams, others say that they actually see their loved one everywhere they go - more commonly in the places that they used to spend time together. It is also quite usual to feel angry at this time: towards doctors and medical staff for not preventing the death, towards people around them such as friends and relatives, or even towards the person who has died.

Another very common feeling is guilt, it is likely that the bereaved will go over in their mind all the things they wished that they had said or done. In some cases they may even consider what they could have done to have prevented the death. Of course, death is usually beyond the control of anyone, and they must be reminded of this.

Guilt is often experienced if a sense of relief is felt when someone has died, particularly after a distressing illness. This feeling of relief is perfectly natural and very common and is nothing to feel guilty about.

These strong confusing emotions can be felt for quite a while after the death and are generally followed by periods of sadness and depression. Grief can be sparked off many months after the death by things that bring back memories.

It can be difficult for other people to understand or cope with someone who bursts into tears for no apparent reason. Some people who can’t deal with this tend to stay away at the time when they are needed most of all.

For the bereaved partner there are constant reminders of their singleness - seeing other couples together is one instance, the images seen on television of happy families is another. All of this can make it difficult to adjust to a new, single lifestyle.

The different stages of mourning tend to overlap and can show themselves in various ways. There is no ‘standard’ way of grieving because every person is an individual with their own way of dealing with all of life’s trials, one of the greatest of these being the loss of someone we love.

It is best to try to return to a normal life as soon as possible, and to resume normal activities.

The phrase ‘Time is a great healer’ is in most cases certainly true. However, the pain of losing a loved one never entirely disappears, nor should it be expected to.

Grief in children and adolescents

Generally, children do not understand the meaning of death until they are three or four years old. Even so, they feel the loss of a close friend or relative in much the same way as adults. It is clear that even in infancy; children grieve and feel great distress.

Children experience the passage of time differently to adults and can therefore appear to overcome grief quite quickly. Nevertheless, children in their early school years may need reassuring that they are not responsible for the death of a close relative as they often blame themselves for one reason or another.

As they will often not want to burden parents by talking about feelings it is important that the grief of a young person is not overlooked. For this reason they should usually be included in the funeral arrangements, bearing in mind that children should not have to attend a funeral if they feel they don’t want to.

Friends and relatives can help

Simply spending time with the person who has been bereaved is helpful. Being close to others can be a great source of comfort. It is not always necessary to say anything, just being there is enough.

It is important that a bereaved person is able to talk and cry with someone without being told to pull themselves together.

It can be difficult for people to understand why the bereaved keep covering the same ground, talking and apparently becoming distressed about the same things over and over again. This is an important part of the healing process and should really be encouraged.

Not mentioning the name of the person who has died for fear of upsetting them can lead to a sense of isolation and add to the grief of the bereaved.

Another difficult time when friends and relatives can be of help is festive occasions and anniversaries, which can be particularly painful for years to come.

Practical help with domestic chores and looking after children can all lead to easing the difficulties facing the bereaved.

Elderly bereaved partners may need more practical help than most, particularly with financial arrangements, paying bills, etc.

Grief that is never resolved

Some people hardly seem to grieve at all. They can avoid any mention of their loss, do not cry at the funeral and appear to return to their normal life remarkably quickly. For some people this is just their normal way of dealing with their loss and no harm occurs.

However, others may suffer physical illness and periods of depression for some time to come.

Sometimes people get stuck in the grieving process. The sense of disbelief and shock can prevail and never seem to end. Others cannot think about anything else but the loss of their loved one. Both these instances are damaging and there are care associations who can help (see Advice and Support).

Finally, please be assured that you have our sympathy at this time. We hope the information contained in this booklet has been helpful, but please don’t hesitate to ask if there is anything else you need to know. The staff at the hospital will do their best to assist.

LOCAL SUPPORT

Hospital Chaplain

Telephone: 01484 342092

The Samaritans

14 New North Parade, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 5JP Telephone: 116 123 www.samaritans.org

CRUSE

Brian Jackson House New North Parade Huddersfield, HD1 5JP Tel: 0844 800 3309 www.cruse.org.uk

Reference: Huddersfield Royal Infirmary Bereavement Book Review Date: July 2022 Publication Date: July 2020

NATIONAL SUPPORT

Lesbian & Gay Bereavement Project

Telephone: 0300 330 0630

Compassionate Friends

A national self-help organisation for bereaved parents 14 New King Street, Deptford, London SE8 3HS Helpline Telephone: 03451 232304 www.tcf.org.uk

CRUSE

A national organisation for bereavement care Telephone: 0808 808 1677 www.cruse.org.uk

The Still Birth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)

Support for parents of babies who die before, during or within a month or so of birth Victoria Charity Centre 11 Belgrave Road, London SW1V 1RB Helpline: 0808 164 3332 www.sands.org.uk

Child Death Helpline

Telephone: 0800 282 986 www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)

National Office, Flamsteed Centre Albert Street, Ilkeston Derbyshire DE7 5GU Helpline: 0300 111 5065 www.uk-sobs.org.uk

Winston’s Wish Family Line

Support for children and young people who have experienced a death in their family Helpline: 08088 020 021

* If you require this booklet in a different format then please call the Patient Advice and Complaint Service on 0800 013 0018.

The Hospital would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from local 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.

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.