Mount Vernon Hospital

What to do after a bereavement

This booklet provides sympathy and useful advice for bereaved relatives and friends of patients under the care of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre .

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 ask questions if you are unclear about any matter, our staff will always be happy to help.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre is part of East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

How to contact Patient Affairs

Our staff in Patient Affairs can give you help and support with anything covered in this booklet.

You can contact them on: 0203 826 2343

Opening hours: 08:30 - 16:30 (Closed 13:00 - 14:00)

Monday - Friday

Main Entrance Gate 1

Obtaining the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death

A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death Certificate (MCCD) will be written up by a doctor who was involved in the care of your loved one, and cremation papers (if required) will need to be completed. These are legal documents signed by a doctor. We aim to have these prepared within 3-5 working days. However, in certain circumstances, such as a referral to the Coroners’ Office, this may take longer. A Medical Examiner will also be involved in the process.

The role of the Medical Examiner

The Medical Examiner is a senior doctor who works independently and has not been involved in any care. Their role is to ensure that the information contained on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death Certificate is correct. They will also make sure that referrals to the Coroner are done in a timely and appropriate manner to avoid any delays.

The Medical Examiner will contact a designated family member by telephone to inform you of the cause of death and answer any questions you may have about the death certificate. You will also be asked if you have any concerns regarding your loved one’s care during their final illness.

Although he or she may not be able to answer all of your questions immediately, the Medical Examiner will advise you of sources of additional support or information.

Following a discussion with the Medical Examiner, the MCCD will be sent electronically to Hillingdon Registrars.

You will need an appointment to register the death at the Registrars Office on 01895 250418 or online: hillingdon.gov.uk.

Opening hours: 09:00 - 16:00. The Registrars Office, Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1UW.

Please allow plenty of time to get to the Registrars Office.

Other Registration Offices may also be used outside of the Hillingdon Borough Council Locality, such as in St Albans, Watford or Hatfield by a process called declaration. Please note this may take longer and the Registrar will be able to advise for more information.

The Registrars Office

Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1UW Tel: 01895 250418

Please use The Intu Shopping Centre Car Park (see map below)

Directions to the Intu Car Park from Mount Vernon Hospital

• Turn right onto Rickmansworth Road/A404 0.1 mile

• Turn right onto Ducks Hill Road/A4180 2.1 miles

• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Breakspear Road

0.8 miles

• Turn left onto Breakspear Road, 1.2 miles

• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Swakeleys Road/B467, continue to follow B467 over two roundabouts 0.6 miles

• Continue straight onto Park Road/B467, go through one roundabout 0.9 miles

• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Chippendale Waye. Intu car park on the left hand side.

Directions from Car Park to Civic Centre (walking)

A:

B:

• Limited parking is available on the High Street opposite the Civic Centre (Pay & Display)

• Take the lift to the Ground Floor and turn left. Out the door. Civic Centre right opposite

Registering a death

Once the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been issued by Patient Affairs, you must register the death with the Registrar of Births and Deaths within five days. There is no charge to register a death but if you require a certified copy of the Death Certificate (for the purposes of private pension claims, insurance claims or to settle financial matters) there will be a charge.

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

• Medical Certificate of Cause of Death

• Medical card (with the GP’s details) if available

• Their full name and surname (and maiden name if married)

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

• Their occupation

• Their usual home address

• Any pension or allowance they received

• Date of birth of their surviving widow/widower

• Your own ID (identification), for example a Driving Licence or Passport etc.

Documents the Registrar will give you:

• The Death Certificate

• The “GREEN FORM’: A certificate for burial or cremation. This is the form that will be required by your chosen funeral company.

• Tell Us Once - the reference details for you to contact the Dept for Work and Pensions (DWP) www.gov.uk.

Duties of the Coroner

A death has 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 established

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

• It is not thought to be from natural causes

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

• It takes place within 24 hours of admission to hospital

There are other cases that must be referred to the Coroner, for example death from industrial diseases, poisoning, suicide, murder, etc. Patient Affairs will be able to help you and give you advice.

You should wait to hear from the Coroner’s Office before contacting the Registrars Office. The Coroner’s Office telephone number is: 0208 753 1164.

When a death takes place at weekends or Public Holidays

While staff 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 listed here:

1. When the death takes place ‘out of hours’ and when there are no legal reasons for the delay, the issuing of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death may be delayed

• Friday afternoon - Monday morning

• A Public Holiday

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 or Wales

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

• A ‘Freedom from Infection’ Certificate must be issued by the hospital prior to transportation. Your Funeral Director can arrange for 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. Funeral Directors collecting the body from the hospital must bring the correct documents with them.

Belongings

All belongings can be collected from the Ward.

If the deceased is wearing rings or any other items of jewellery when they are transferred to the mortuary, these will usually be left in place and the Funeral Director will return them to you.

Viewings

Families are advised to wait until the deceased is in the care of their chosen Funeral Director to view their loved one. Some people may not want to see their deceased relative and prefer to remember them the way they were.

Viewings may be carried out in our Chapel of Rest but are strictly by appointment during our office hours and are limited to approximately 15 minutes. This is because the hospital cannot operate a viewing facility in the same way as the Funeral Director. Please call Patient Affairs Office (MondayFriday 9am - 4pm) in advance to see if this is possible.

Bereavement Care provided by the Hospital Chaplaincy Service

The Hospital Chaplaincy Service is a multi-faith department whose role is to provide pastoral, spiritual and religious care for patients and their relatives.

Chaplaincy staff are able to provide bereavement counselling as well as practical advice during the early days of your bereavement. Chaplains can also help you to find appropriate ongoing support from among a wide variety of local organisations including faith communities.

You can contact the Chaplaincy at Mount Vernon on: 0203 826 2658, please leave a message on the answerphone.

Organ, Tissue and Body Donations

In most situations organ donation is not possible after someone has died. However, tissue and corneal donation may still be possible up to 48 hours after death and can benefit many recipients. If this is something that you would like further information on then please speak to a ward nurse or doctor who can contact the Tissue Co-ordinator.

Some people may have previously given their written consent and made arrangements for their body to be used for medical research and teaching purposes. If so, relatives should get in touch with the relevant medical school / anatomy organisation who will then liaise with the hospital staff.

Further information on body donation can be obtained by visiting www.hta.gov.uk

Arranging a Funeral

You can contact a Funeral Director 24 hours a day, including weekends. Your chosen Funeral Director can make 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 will come to your house if you prefer. Your own Minister, Priest or religious leader and the Hospital Chaplaincy Service may also be of great help during this difficult time.

Most Funeral Directors belong to their National Association, which has regulations that must be followed. Patient Affairs can give you a list of local Funeral Directors.

Funerals are expensive although basic costs tend to be similar. However, the final cost can vary considerably. Do not be afraid to mention your budget. Financial help may be available if you receive benefits, or if the deceased has no next of kin. Contact the DSS before making any arrangements.

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

War Pensions Branch, DSS, Norcross, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. Telephone: 0800 1692277

One-Time Payments And Allowances

Bereavement Support Payment

If your husband, wife or civil partner has died you may be able to get a Bereavement Support Payment: a one-off, lumpsum payment of £2,500 which is tax-free. You may be able to claim a Bereavement Support Payment if:

• You were under state pension age when they died

• Your husband, wife or civil partner has paid enough

National Insurance contributions

• Your husband, wife or civil partner died as a result of an illness or accident caused by their job or working conditions

Bereavement Allowance (Previously Widow’s Pension)

If you’re widowed you may be able to claim Bereavement Allowance, the taxable weekly benefit paid to you for up to 52 weeks from the date of death of your husband, wife or civil partner.

You may be able to claim Bereavement Allowance if:

• Your husband, wife or civil partner had paid enough

National Insurance Contributions

• Your husband, wife or civil partner died as a result of an illness or accident caused by their job or working conditions

• You’re a widow, widower or surviving civil partner aged 45 or over when your husband, wife or civil partner died

• You’re under state pension age

• You’re not bringing up children

Widowed Parent’s Allowance

You might be able to claim Widowed Parent’s Allowance if you’re widowed under State Pension age and have at least one dependent child.

You may also be able to claim if you’re pregnant and your husband has died, or you’re pregnant after fertility treatment and your civil partner has died.

You can get Widowed Parent’s Allowance until you stop being entitled to Child Benefit.

Funeral Payment

If you’re on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging, you may be able to get a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund. You might have to repay some or all of it from the estate of the person who died. You may be eligible for a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund if you or your partner are in receipt of certain benefits or tax credits. This is only a guide. For further information and how to apply for bereavement benefits visit www.gov.uk or telephone the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 731 0469.

Who You Should Inform

Financial Organisations

• General insurance companies for home, car, travel or medical

• Private pension providers

• Life insurance companies

• Banks and building societies

• Mortgage provider

• Hire purchase or loan companies

• Credit card providers and any store cards

Utilities and household contacts

• Landlord or local authority if they rented a property

• Any private organisation / agency providing home help

• Utility companies if accounts were in the deceased’s name

• Royal Mail – if mail needs re-directing

• TV / internet companies with which the deceased had subscriptions

• Mobile phone contract provider

When you contact any of the above organisations, ask to be directed to their bereavement department so that you get to speak to the right person who can help you.

State Benefits

The Registrar of Births and Deaths will have given you a Notification of Death Certificate, which you need to take or send to the DSS office after you have filled it in. You will also need to send/take any of the deceased’s state pension paperwork as well as your own if you are a widow or widower. Further information is available in a DSS booklet ‘What to do after death in England and Wales (DWP1027)’ available from any DSS office or Patient Affairs.

Some advice you may find helpful

• Do try to talk about what happened with your family, a close friend or a sympathetic support group

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

• Someone within this group may be able to help you find a Funeral Director

• Explain to the Funeral Director if you only have a limited amount of money for the funeral. He 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

• 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.

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.

Advice and Support Organisations

African and Descendants Counselling

Email: bmakuka_m@yahoo.co.uk

East Finchley Neighbourhood Centre, Room 3, 42 Church Lane, East Finchley, London N2 8DT

Age UK Hillingdon/Harrow/Brent Central Office

2 Chapel Court, Hayes UB3 2LW

020 8756 3040

Monday - Thursday 9:00 - 14:00, Friday 9:00 - 13:00

Age UK Hertfordshire

0300 345 3446

Monday - Friday 08:00 - 17:00, Saturday 08:00 - 12 noon

Offers local advice and support. Offers information on Legal and Social Services Benefits after death (help and advice).

Citizens Advice Bureau

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Hemel Hempstead

03444 111 444

Watford

03444 111 444

St Albans 01727 811118

CRUSE helpline

0808 808 1677

Monday - Friday 9:30 - 17:00

helpline@cruse.org.uk

An organisation that offers general and practical advice, details on benefits and local cruse organisations to anyone who has been bereaved. Cruse also provides bereavement counselling, and befriending.

Cruse Bereavement Care Youth Line

Freephone 0808 808 1677

hopeagain@cruse.org.uk

A website for children and young people aged between 1218 who have been bereaved. Also has details of a confidential telephone number for professional confidential bereavement counselling.

Department for Work and Pensions

Monday - Friday 8:00 - 18:00

Pensions

0800 731 0469

Bereavement Benefits

0800 731 0469

LGBT Helpline

0300 330 0630

10:00 - 22:00 every day

Bereavement support for lesbian, bi and trans gay people.

Bereavement Care

0208 427 5720

Telephone service, not voicemail.

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service

0208 951 3881

www.jbcs.org.uk

LINK

01895 277222

Fountains Mill, 81 High Street, Uxbridge UB8 1JR. Based in the Hillingdon area, but will offer contact numbers for people in other areas.

Counselling services for 11-25 year olds. Free and confidential.

Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre for Cancer Support and information

0203 826 2555

Monday - Friday 9:30 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 16:30 Free drop-in and telephone information service for cancer patients and their carers.

Macmillan Cancer Support

0808 808 0000

Monday - Friday 09:00 - 20:00

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

The Samaritans

116 123, 24 hour service, free call. Offers confidential telephone support for all in despair.

SIBBS (Support in Bereavement for Brothers and Sisters)

A sister organisation to Compassionate Friends

www.tcf.org.uk click on search box and type ‘Siblings’. A nationwide self-help support group for people who have experienced the death of a brother or sister. Offers the same support as Compassionate Friends.

SOBS National Helpline

0300 111 5065

Everyday 9:00 - 21:00

www.uksobs.org

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

Peace Hospice

01923 229595

24 hour voicemail with rapid response to your call. Professional support following a death.

South West Herts Victim Support Scheme

0300 303 0165

Monday - Friday 10:30 -18:30, Saturday 10:00 - 16:00

Offers practical support and advice for victims of crime, suicide or any sudden death.

WAY Widowed and Young

www.widowedandyoung.org.uk

WAY Widowed and Young provides a self-help social and support network for men and women widowed under the age of 50, and their children.

The Contents of this publication has been prepared by the Patient Affairs and the Chaplaincy Service.

Reference: Mount Vernon Hospital Bereavement Booklet

Publication date: May 2023

Review date: May 2025

Remember a loved one

We understand that you are probably going through the most difficult time of your life. Losing a loved one is always very painful. Please accept our sincere condolences at this sad time. We are grateful to you for taking the time to read about your hospital’s charity which helps to improve the care and treatment of patients.

When the time is right you may like to make a donation to the hospital charity or fundraise in memory of your loved one. There are many ways you can remember your loved one and leave a lasting legacy in their name.

We can help with setting up a fundraising tribute page or can provide donation envelopes. Alternatively, to make a donation online please visit www.enhhcharity.org.uk/mvcc

For information on setting up a tribute page or to request donation envelopes, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01438 285182.

Registered Charity Number 1053338

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.

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.

You may need help, support or advice on what to do when someone dies in relation to probate.

Freephone: 0808 168 5181

Mobiles: 0333 240 0360

We offer free guidance and advice on the legal and financial aspects of bereavement including your responsibilities and whether probate is required.

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.