1. Making contact with a funeral director

You can contact a funeral director following a death and can start making arrangements. If you are unsure of the wishes of the deceased regarding funeral arrangements you may find they have included this in their Will.

Funeral directors are available during office hours, which are Monday to Friday 8.30am–5.00pm. However, they can be contacted 24 hours a day, every day, for emergency calls. To minimise waiting time, it is helpful to telephone the funeral directors to make an appointment to see them. They will make all the necessary arrangements with you.

When you see a member of the Bereavement Team you will be asked to sign a release form. This form allows the funeral director to collect the deceased from the hospital.

The cost of a funeral varies and you may wish to see a brochure and price list or contact several funeral directors to compare prices, services provided and facilities available before making a decision.

A list of funeral directors can be found via:

• The British Institute of Funeral Directors, 28 Cherry Blossom Close, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3ST telephone 0800 032 2733 • The National Association of Funeral Directors, 618 Warwick Road, Solihull, West Midlands,

B91 1AA telephone 0121 711 1343 • The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral

Directors, 3 Bullfields, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire,

CM21 9DB telephone 0345 230 6777 • Internet search