Medical Examiner Office

All deaths at University Hospitals Dorset are reviewed by a Medical Examiner.

A Medical Examiner is a senior doctor who has not been involved in a patient’s care previously. Their role is to independently review the care and circumstances prior to a patient’s death.

The Medical Examiner will agree the information written on the Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD), to ensure it is accurate. If a Coroner’s referral is required, the Office will ensure this is done appropriately and in a timely manner.

A key part of the Medical Examiner’s Office is to discuss the cause of death with the bereaved. After all paperwork is completed, a member of the Office will contact you to explain the MCCD and answer any questions you may have; they will also give you the opportunity to raise any concerns about the care provided to the patient. Any feedback raised to the Office is appropriately passed on, and may lead to further investigations. Once you’ve spoken with the Medical Examiner’s Office, the MCCD will be passed back to Bereavement Services to progress forward. If a Coroner’s referral is required, a member of the Office will also contact you to discuss the reasons for the referral, along with next steps, before sending the paperwork to HM Senior Coroner for Dorset.

Collection of personal property

The personal property of the deceased may only be collected from the Bereavement Services Office by the following:

A relative of the deceased

Executor of the Will

Funeral Director, with authorisation from the next of kin

Friend, with authorisation from the next of kin

A person arranging the funeral

When a person dies in hospital their property and valuables will be checked by two members of staff and then sent to the Bereavement/Property Office, where they are re-checked.

The next of kin, or other person from the list, may collect the property from the Bereavement Service Office after phoning to confirm that all property is ready for collection.

Viewings

If you would like to see your relative after they have been taken from the ward, limited viewing facilities are available in the hospital through the Bereavement Office.

It is helpful for viewings to take place Mon-Fri between 10:00am – 4.00pm to enable us to provide the best support necessary at this time.

If you require a viewing outside of these hours please contact the main hospital switchboard on 01202 303626 to speak to the Clinical Site Team who will be able to see if this can be arranged for you.

The Bereavement Team is mindful of meeting the needs of deceased patient’s in a multi-cultural society and the requirements of different faiths. We have Chaplains available who support all faiths. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Bereavement Office.

POST MORTEM – see page 19

If a Post Mortem is carried out the Hospital will not issue a Death Certificate, please go to page 19.

Contacting a Funeral Director

You do not have to wait until the Medical Cause of Death Certificate has been issued. However, you may like to take time in making this decision, and to compare costs and services offered. A list of local names and addresses can be found on the internet, telephone directory and at the back of this booklet on page 26.

Registering the Death

Where to register the death.

You will need to make an appointment to register the death. This should be done within 5 days (unless it has been reported to the Coroner, see page 19) and in the district Register Office where the death occurred.

We will always try to complete the certificate within this timeframe but this is not always possible.

The Register Office is open Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 4.30pm, Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm.

Bournemouth Register Office

Town Hall

Bournemouth

BH2 6DY

Phone: 01202 123777

Website: www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Christchurch Register Office

26 High Street

Christchurch

BH23 1AW

Phone: 01305 225153

Website: www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Poole Register Office

The Guildhall

Market Street

Poole

BH15 1NF

Phone: 01202 123232

Website: www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk

What if I live outside the area?

All deaths must be registered in the district where the deceased has died. However for relatives living outside the area, the death may be registered by declaration at your local registry office. This can delay the funeral by a few days because the forms have to be posted.

How to register the death

Once the MCCD has been completed it is sent electronically and securely to the Registrar directly and your appointment can be made to register the death. The Bereavement Office are able to help you with making the appointment.

Who can register the death

A relative of the deceased. Someone present at the death. The person making the funeral arrangements.

What needs to be taken to register the death:

The Register Office offers a service which enables you, through the Registrar, to tell a number of Government Agencies and the Borough of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole local authority. The service is free and will save you time. The information you give will be treated securely.

Using this service the following departments will automatically be informed:

• D W Pensions

• The Pension Service

• Disability and Carers Service

• Jobcentre Plus

• HM Revenue & Customs for Child Benefit and Tax Credits

• Identity and Passport Service

• Housing Benefit Office

• Council Tax Benefit Office

Information you will need with you

• The deceased’s National Insurance Number and/or date of birth

• Information on benefits or services the deceased person may have been receiving

• Passport

• DVLA

• Libraries

• Blue Badges

• Council Housing

• Adult Services

• Children’s Services

• Council Tax

• Electoral Services

• Driving Licence

• Disability Badges

• Bus Pass

• Medical Card

• Marriage Certificate (if appropriate)

• Birth Certificate

(Please do not worry if you do not have any of these, the important one is the National Insurance Number.)

The Registrar will ask you for the following information. You may like to fill in the spaces below before you go to the Register Office.

The date and place of death

Full name and surname/family name

Date and place of birth of the Deceased

Address, including post code of the Deceased ...................................................................................................................................................

The last full-time occupation of the Deceased

Date and place of birth of surviving widow/widower/civil partner:

Maiden name/family name (if applicable) ...................................................................................................................................................

This information will form an entry in the Death Register.

The Registrar will give you three documents:

• Death Certificate

The Registrar will issue copies of the Death Certificate for a charge. A Death Certificate has a Crown copyright and may not be photo-copied. These may be necessary for sorting out the estate of the deceased person. You may request the return of certified copies from banks, etc. Copies may be purchased later. The Bereavement Team can advise of the cost of the Death Certificate. Several may be needed for purposes such as those listed below:

For letters of administration

Closing bank or building society accounts

For insurance companies and private company pensions

Stocks and shares owned by the deceased

Premium bonds or other National Savings

• Green Form

The Registrar will scan this electronically to the Funeral Director.

• White form BD8 A certificate of Registration of Death which is required for the Department of Social Security for pension purposes. This will not be issued when you have used the Register Office’s free service using the deceased’s National Insurance No.

Arranging the Funeral

You can do this before or after the death is registered. It is important to contact a Funeral Director as soon as possible after a bereavement so that advice and assistance are given from the beginning and initial arrangements can be made.

We are unable to recommend a Funeral Director, however there are numerous business directories available as well as internet search engines you may find helpful.

You do not have to wait until the doctor has completed the Medical Cause of Death Certificate before you contact a Funeral Director, however you may like to take time in making this decision and compare costs and services.

A list of local Funeral Directors can be found on page 26.

A funeral is a time for celebrating the life of the deceased as well as a time for saying goodbye and sharing grief. Before making the funeral arrangements, you may wish to give some thought to what sort of funeral the deceased, you, the family and friends would prefer; a private gathering or a bigger ceremony, whether or not there should be a religious ceremony.

Funeral Directors may be contacted by phone 24 hrs a day, seven days a week, though offices may only be visited during normal office hours.

Most Funeral Directors belong to trade associations with codes of practice that guarantee that a funeral will not cost more than the written estimate. It is perfectly in order for you to ask for more than one estimate from different firms. The final choice of Funeral Director is entirely yours.

You may wish to put an announcement in the national or local newspapers giving details of the funeral and wishes about charity donations or flowers. The classified advertisements department of the newspaper will be pleased to help you with wording and give you an estimate of costs. Funeral Directors will also arrange this for you.

Who needs to be told about the death

You will probably want to let the family, friends and neighbours know of the death right away. There are several other people who may also need to know.

These are some of the arrangements that may need to be made:

Funeral Director

Priest, Minister or Faith Leader

The Benefits Agency (pensions, benefit)

The Bank, Credit Cards, Building Society

Social Services (home helps, home care)

Schools, College or University attended (if applicable)

Place of work (occupational pension)

Executors of the Estate (Will)

Solicitor

Insurance Companies