Help and Care in Bereavement

On behalf of all the staff involved in caring for your loved one while they were with us, may we offer our sympathy to you, your family and friends during this very sad time.

This booklet is designed to provide practical advice and to help you with all the arrangements that need to be made. We hope that you will find it helpful during the next few days. It gives guidance on who can help and where further information can be obtained, as well as explaining procedures such as registering a death and arranging a funeral.

The days following bereavement can be very difficult, but there are formalities which must be dealt with promptly.

If any of the information is unclear, please ask our Bereavement Teams who will help in any way they can.

When Death Occurs

Phone Bereavement Services:

• Christcurch Hospital 0300 019 5291

• Poole Hospital 0300 019 2673

• Royal Bournemouth Hospital 0300 019 4152/4125/5752 after 10.00am the next working day

Medical Examiner will phone to discuss the Medical Cause of Death and any concerns or queries you may have (allow up to 5 days)

Bereavement Services will phone you back when documentation is ready

Bereavement Services will make you an appointment for the Registry Office as we have their diary

Contact Funeral Director

Attend appointment at the Register Office in Bournemouth

Attend Bereavement Services Office to collect property only or can be given to the Funeral Director

If the death occurs over a weekend or on a Bank Holiday the certificate will not be written until the next working day at the earliest and may not be possible for a further 24/48 hours.

What to do first

Please telephone the Bereavement Service Office after 10.00am the next working day (except Bank Holidays) in order to speak to a Bereavement Officer.

Bereavement Service Office - 0300 019 4152/4125/5752

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am – 3.30pm

The Bereavement Office at Poole Hospital is located in the Main Atrium on the ground floor.

The Bereavement Office at Royal Bournemouth Hospital is located on the ground floor, West Wing in Orthopaedic Outpatients (opposite Ward 1).

Please do not come to the hospital without telephoning first and getting confirmation that all property and documentation is ready. This process may take up to 24/48 hours. We are unable to release property outside of these hours. Our office will be happy to help you with any queries.