2. What to do if someone dies at home

When expectedly someone dies at home during normal practice opening hours, you should call the person’s General Practitioner (GP). If you do not know the name of the GP, the person didn’t have a GP, or if the death happens outside normal GP practice opening hours, call 111 (the NHS none emergency number) instead. In most cases when someone dies at home and it is expected, the GP will visit to certify the death and in most cases can provide a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death confirming the cause of death. There are occasions when the GP will request a Community Registered Nurse to verify the person’s death. This verification process allows for the person’s care to be transferred to the Funeral Director. During the verification an examination will be carried out by the Registered Nurse during which families can choose to observe the verification or not.