The Coroner
In some circumstances, it may not be possible for a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to be issued. This may be due to the death being sudden, unexplained or unexpected.
The Coroner has a statutory and legal responsibility to investigate sudden deaths or deaths caused by accidents or industrial diseases.
The Coroner will facilitate the issue of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death or, if an inquest is required, an Interim Certificate of Death. The Coroner’s Officer will get in touch with you to let you know when to proceed with the funeral arrangement.
Hospital post-mortem
On occasions, the Coroner may not require a post-mortem, however, the doctor who cared for your loved one may request a hospital post-mortem to help them determine the cause of death and help them in the treatment of other patients in the future. The medical team will discuss this with you.
You will be invited to consent to a post-mortem, which involves the completion of a post-mortem consent form. A member of the clinical staff will assist you in completing the form if you agree to consent.
There is also a small leaflet, which accompanies the consent form and provides more details. The hospital is very sensitive to any specific cultural or religious needs that must be adhered to. You will be asked about these during the consent process.
Following the post-mortem, you will be able to speak to the relevant doctor to find out the post-mortem result.
Whether you choose to consent to the examination (post-mortem) or not, the doctor should be in a position to issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).
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If an inquest is necessary
An inquest is an enquiry into the medical cause and circumstance of the death, if the cause of death remains uncertain after the post-mortem.
Registering the death
Once you have been notified that the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is complete, you should contact the local Register Office to make an appointment to formally register the death.
You need to register the death in the same county that the death occurred. If the deceased was a visitor to the area or you do not live locally then it is possible to register “death by declaration” at your local Register Office. However, the paperwork will still need to be processed which can cause a delay. Your Funeral Director can provide further advice.
Carmarthen Register Office: 01267 228210
Llanelli Register Office: 01554 744202
Ammanford Register Office: 01269 598300
Pembrokeshire Register Office, Pembrokeshire Archives, Prendergast, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 2PE
Tel: 01437 775027
Email: registrar@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Ceredigion Registration Service, Ceredigion Register Office, Rhodfa
Padarn, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3UE
Tel: 01970 633580
Email: cofrestrydd@ceredigion.llyw.cymru
Email: registrar@ceredigion.gov.uk
www.ceredigion.gov.uk
www.gov.uk/register-a-death
www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/births-deathsmarriages-and-civil-partnerships/registering-a-death/
www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/how-to-register-a-death
www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/births-deaths-marriages-civilpartnerships/register-a-death/
See Registry Offices Location Map on the following page.
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Nort h
SPRINGFIELDROAD PENLANROAD
Parc Myrddin
Richmond Terrace
Carmarthen SA31 1HQ
LLWYNMEREDYD
D
Carmarthen Register Office A484 A484
R O A D
CAPE L SPRINGF I E L D
PARCYRONEN
PE N L A N ROAD WELLFIELDROAD LONG ACREROAD ROSS AVENUE
EVAN ROAD
BELVEDEREAVENUE
PARK HALL
RICHMONDTERR PRIORYST OLDOAK
LANE
GLASF R YN TERR HALLST FELINFOELROAD GORING ROAD
HEDLEY CAPEL-NEWYDDTERRACE
LN ARFRYN AVE
BARN STREET DOLGWILIROAD BRONWYDD NASHAVEHAFODCWNIN AELYBRYN O E H L SOFFNALNEP G L YNDER I RESERVOIRROAD
LLYSCAERMED I
ABBEYMEAD TANERDY
Glangwili General Hospital
A40 A40
Dolgwili Road, Town Centre, Carmarthen SA31 2AF H
© Copyright RNS Publications 2024 A40
© Copyright RNS Publications 2024
FARMERS ROW RD LLETHR
9 Route in from Glangwili General Hospital and Prince Phillip Hospital Ammanford Registration Office 3b Wind Street, Ammanford,
SA18 3DN Nort h PARKSTREET WINDSTREET COLLEGESTREETA483 MARGARET
UNION STREET
A483 HIGHSTREET HALLSTREETHEOLWALLASEY
FOUNDRYROAD A474 HIGHSTREET WALTERROAD
PENTWYNROAD RISE STREET RiverAmman River Loughor A483 H A L L STREET
A474FFORDDWILLIAMWALKER A474 CARREGAMMAN NEW ROAD ISCENNENROAD T I RYD A I L LANE
Park FFYNONNLAS © Copyright RNS Publications 2024 North H
Phillip
A476 B4303 COLES H I L L T E RRACE
WEND
DAFENROAD
Dyfed
STREET
PEN-Y-BANCROAD
FOUNDRYROAD
PENTWYNROAD
HEOL-LAS
Betws
Prince
Hospital
A484
TOWN HALLSQ Town Hall Square Church Street, Llanelli SA15 3AH Llanelli Register Office
FELINFOEL ROAD A476 Bryngwyn Mawr Dafen Road, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA14 8QF A484 A484 A484 AfonDefen
The death can be registered by:
A designated next of kin should register the death.
If this is not possible, this can be done by:
• Someone present at the time of death
• An official from the hospital where the death occurred
• The person making the funeral arrangements
When you go to the Register Office, you will need to take the following:
• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
• Birth certificate
• Medical card or NHS number which can be provided by the hospital or GP surgery
• Marriage/Civil Partnership certificate if applicable
If you are unable to find any of these please speak to the Register Office for advice before you attend.
The informant needs to bring proof of identification e.g., Driving Licence, Passport or Utility Bill that has proof of address on.
10
The Registrar will need the following information:
Full name of the deceased (and any previous names)
Their date and place of birth (town, or country if born outside of England and Wales)
Usual home address and postcode
..................................................................................................................
If the deceased was married or in a civil partnership, the date of birth of the surviving widow/widower or civil partner
Occupation and type of industry (If the deceased was married, in a civil partnership, widow, widower or surviving partnership the full name and occupation)
..................................................................................................................
Name of Funeral Director and whether there will be a cremation or a burial
..................................................................................................................
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When the death is registered, the Register Office/Service will give you:
• Death certificates are provided by the Register Service for a fee, if you require more than one copy you can purchase as many as you need. The Register Office will be able to advise how many copies you might need.
• Certified copies of the Death Registration are required for matters such as insurance, bank accounts, premium bonds, pension claims, solicitors, etc.
• Green Form – to be given to your Funeral Director so that the funeral arrangements can go ahead
• Tell Us Once is completed at the time of registration. NOK are encouraged to complete information online or by telephone to DWP (Department for Work and Pensions).
‘Tell Us Once’ is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. When you register the death, the Register Office will let you know.
The Register Office will give you a number to call. This includes Relay UK if you cannot hear or speak on the phone. If you’re a British Sign Language (BSL) user, there’s a video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet.
12
After the funeral
Settling the deceased person’s estate can be confusing, time consuming and distressing. If you have been named as executor in a Will, it is your responsibility to see that the person’s wishes, as you understand them, are carried out. This will include payment of funeral expenses, debts and taxes, as well as the disposal of their possessions and other assets.
If someone dies without leaving a valid Will, this is known as dying intestate. It is necessary to obtain a ‘Grant of letters of administration’ from the Probate Registry in order to administer the estate. The Probate Registry of Wales can be contacted on:
Cardiff: 029 2047 4373
Carmarthen: 01267 245057
Further advice and information can be obtained through the Citizen’s Advice Bureau www.citizensadvice.org.uk
When someone dies
Bereavement is a unique and personal experience. We all have our own way of grieving.
Grief is a normal reaction to the loss of someone we knew or loved and is a normal process that helps us to come to terms with change. There are no right or wrong ways to grieve and sadly, there are no short cuts.
It is normal to experience a range of emotions such as feeling shock, numbness, anger, guilt or feeling more anxious. This may be accompanied by restlessness, especially at night when it may be difficult to sleep.
All these are natural reactions to bereavement and not a sign that you are unable to cope.
During this time, you may need the support of others. Do not be afraid to speak about your feelings to someone, this is often a difficult time for family and friends too. They may be afraid to speak about your loved one
13
for fear of upsetting you. It may be necessary for you to take the first step and let them know you want to talk and would like their support.
It is important that you allow yourself time to grieve and come to terms with your bereavement in whatever way is right for you.
Chaplaincy – pastoral, religious and spiritual guidance
The Chaplaincy Team at the hospital is available to provide care and support. Chaplains help by giving time and listening to people and from experience may provide practical advice and are not just there for the religious. We offer supportive care to people of all faiths and no faith.
There are chapels/quiet rooms available on all acute sites. These are separate from the Chapels of Rest / Viewing Rooms, and you may use them for quiet and reflection, whether or not you belong to a particular denomination or faith.
Chaplaincy offers a very informal ‘Listening service’ to those who have been bereaved. This is not a religious or long-term counselling service, but it could help you if you wish to talk with someone outside your immediate circle of family and friends. You may contact soon after your bereavement or many months after your loss.
To make contact please ask for a member of the Chaplaincy Team Glangwili General Hospital switchboard on 01267 235151.
It helps to talk
We need to express our pain and grief for us to process it. You may find you need to talk about the events leading up to your loved one’s death, and about the death itself, many times. This is quite natural and is one of the ways we gradually make sense of what has happened. It is good to talk to family and friends or seek professional help and speak with your GP.
14
Avoid isolation
Grief can be an incredibly lonely and isolating experience. Being with others, friends or a support group, who have also experienced loss, can be a great help.
Accept that you will not be functioning as effectively as usual for a while. Poor concentration and memory are normal. Seek support to help and try not to set yourself unrealistic tasks for each day. You may feel very much out of control. It is often helpful to put a little structure into your day, planning household chores in the morning and a little gentle exercise in the afternoon. Our grief can be felt in our bodies so a gentle walk or other exercise can relieve tension. Plan treats as well to allow yourself a break from the pain. Going to a film you enjoy or a visit to a friend is important and does not mean you have in any way forgotten your loved one.
Remember
There are no rules for grief. Everyone is unique, and we grieve in our own way and in our own time. You may find these guidelines helpful.
Learn to listen to yourself, to find what works for you. Accept that what helps initially may not help as much later.
You may wish to seek further support to help in your grief. Your GP may be able to help you and is the person to go to in the first instance. If you need additional support, they may be able to recommend a local counsellor or support group. Other organisations that may be able to help are listed on the following pages.
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Do you need to speak to someone now?
24 HOUR SUPPORT LINES
Samaritans 116 123 (UK)
Childline 0800 1111
Silverline 0800 470 8090
Hywel Dda Bereavement Support Services
For anyone at anytime for any reason
Support for 18yrs & under and their relatives
Support for the over 50s
Offers specialist bereavement counselling to residents within Carmarthenshire, which includes children and young people. They can be contacted to discuss Bereavement Support needs.
Tel: 01267 227639 or 01554
783564
CRUSE Bereavement Care
Offers bereavement counselling, advice, information, and social contact.
UK National Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Email: helpline@cruse.org.uk
Samaritans
Samaritans can be contacted at any time, day or night, and someone will be available to listen and provide confidential and nonjudgmental emotional support.
Tel: 116 123 (English) or 0808 164 0123 (Welsh)
Text: 07725 909090
Patient support services
(feedback and complaints)
Tel: 0300 0200 159
Email: hdhb.patientsupportservices@ wales.nhs.uk
Online: Using our feedback form
Post: Freepost Feedback @ Hywel
Dda
National Bereavement Partnership Helpline
Tel: 0800 448 0800
Between 7am and 10pm for emotional support.
Grief Talk
Tel: 0808 802 0111
Support for anyone from any phone for free session with a Grieftalk counsellor
Monday to Friday 9am – 9pm
Bereavement Advice Centre
Tel: 0800 634 9494
Practical advice (9am – 5pm)
Bereavement Trust
Tel: 0800 435 455
Emotional and practical advice (6 – 10pm)
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Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Tel: 0300 111 5065
9am – 9pm every day
The Compassionate Friends
Tel: 0345 123 2304
Open every day
10am – 4pm, 7am – 10 pm
2 Wish
Supporting sudden deaths in children and young adults
www.2wish.org.uk
Tel: 01443 853125
The DPJ Foundation
Support for farmers, farm contractors and their families
Email:
kate@thedpjfoundation.co.uk
The Jac Lewis Foundation –Ammanford
Email: admin@jaclewisfoundation. co.uk
Good Grief Trust
www.thegoodgrieftrust.org
Winston’s Wish
www.winstonswish.org
Tel: 08088 020 021
Pembrokeshire Counselling Service
Tel: 01437 768708
HAHAV
Living Well and Bereavement Services
Plas Antaron, Southgate, Aberystwyth, SY23 1SF
Tel: 01970 611 550
www.hahav.org.uk
Children’s Bereavement
Support Services
Tel: 01267 227639
Child Bereavement UK
Information and support line.
Tel: 0800 028 8840
Sandy Bear
Support for children and young people
Europa House, 115 Charles Street, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire
SA73 2HW
www.sandybear.co.uk
Marie Curie
Tel: 0800 090 2309
Open Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm
Open Saturday 11am – 5pm
Practical and clinical information and support on all aspects of end of life and bereavement.
www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/ support/bereaved-family-friends/ practical-legal/register-a-death
17
Wales/Cymru Specific Organisations
Nightingale House Hospice
Paul Sartori Foundation, Haverfordwest
Email: info@paulsartori.org
Mid & North Powys Mind/ Carmarthen and Llanelli Mind
Email: carers@mindcarmarthen.org.uk
Hope Again
Email: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk
Email: gdpr@cruse.org.uk
Platform, Swansea
Email: connect@platfform.org
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Mental Health Support
Email: supporterrelations@mind.org.uk
sahayak@rethink.org
bristolBME@rethink.org
Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales (eyst)
Email: info@eyst.org.uk
Age Cymru
Email: reception@agecymrudyfed.org.uk
Ponthafren Association, Welshpool & Newtown
Long Bridge Street, Newtown, Powys
SY16 2DY
Tel: 01686 621586
Email: admin@ponthafren.org.uk
LBGTQ+ Cymru
Email: info@lgbtcymru.org.uk
18
Sue Ryder
Other Useful links
National Specialist Support Services
Online Community and Online Bereavement Counselling.
Sudden
Support for people bereaved by sudden death.
Muslim Bereavement Support Service
Support for Muslim women after the death of a loved one.
Jewish Bereavement Support Services
Support for the Jewish community after a death.
Sudden Arrhythmic Death
Advice and support after Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Support for those who have lost someone through substance misuse.
Road Peace
The sudden, unexpected and traumatic experience of a road death or serious injury can be emotionally overwhelming. And the police investigations, inquests and court procedures which may follow are often unfamiliar and disorientating. RoadPeace can help.
Breaking Bad News
Advice on breaking bad news to someone with an intellectual disability.
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse
Help guiding families through Inquiries including Domestic Homicide Reviews and Mental Health Reviews, and we assist with and represent on Inquests, Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiries and other reviews.
Support after Suicide Partnership
Advice and guidance to all those affected by suicide.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Helping overcome isolation of those bereaved by suicide (over 18).
War Widows
Advice and help to all those who have been widowed in conflict since WW2.
London Friend
Support and counselling for the LGB&T community.
Grief Encounter
Support for bereaved children and their families.
SAMMS
Support after Murder and Manslaughter.
19
Talking to children about death
As adults, we feel the need to protect our children from things that we might find difficult. We can assume that children will not understand death and bereavement, or that it will be too upsetting for them.
If you have concerns regarding a child and how they are processing their grief, please speak with a GP for support.
We can often underestimate a child’s ability to cope. Like adults, children find it confusing to cope if they are not told the truth about what is happening and can be more frightened by their own imagination.
You may wish to consider offering children the choice about whether they wish to attend the funeral or not.
The future
The length of time to grieve varies from person to person. Some things such as the sadness at the death and missing the lost person may never go away completely but the pain gets less with time. Many people find that although life will never be the same again, there does come a time when they can begin to enjoy living again.
Grief has no time frame, we never ‘get over’, the death of a loved one, but over time, we learn to adapt to life with our loss.
22
GIVING IN MEMORY
Remembering a loved one with a donation in their memory is a wonderful way to honour a special person during a difficult time. By choosing to support your local NHS charity the memory of your loved one will help us to enhance local NHS services.
Funeral collections
Asking friends and family to make a donation in lieu of flowers at a funeral or memorial service is a meaningful way to remember your loved one. If you would like to ask for donations to be made to support Hywel Dda Health Charities, please contact us to request collection envelopes to use at the service.
Tribute funds
A Hywel Dda Health Charities tribute fund is an online memorial that you can create and personalise in memory of a loved one; it is a place for you to remember and celebrate the life of someone who is special to you. You can set up your tribute fund at www.muchloved.com
Take part in an event
Fundraising in memory is an incredibly special and unique way to honour someone close to you. Whether it is a cake sale or a sky dive, there are so many ways you can raise sponsorship in memory of a loved one.
Make a donation
If you would like to celebrate the life of a loved one by making a one-off donation to Hywel Dda Health Charities, you can donate easily at www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk
If you would prefer to donate by post, please make cheques payable to ‘Hywel Dda Health Charities’ and send to Hywel Dda Health Charities, Hafan Derwen, St David’s Park, Jobswell Road, Carmarthen, SA31 3BB. Remember to include your contact details and please do not send any money through the post.
However you choose to support us in memory of someone special - thank you.
We are the official charity of Hywel Dda University Local Health Board and exist to make a positive difference to the health, wellbeing and experience of NHS patients, service users and staff.
@HywelDdaCharity HywelDdaHealthCharities Registered charity number 1147863 hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk | #YourNHSCharity E: Fundraising.HywelDda@wales.nhs.uk | T: 01267 239 815
The information in this booklet is up to date at the time of publication. We would like to thank our sponsors, without whom this booklet would not be possible. However, we cannot endorse the services advertised.
Reference: Glangwili General Hospital Bereavement Booklet
Publication date: April 2024
Review date: April 2026
The Health Board 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 Health Board 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.
�\\ bereavement ,�port network stopping mail STOPPING JUNK MAIL
www.stopmail.co.uk 0808 168 9607 from a landline 0333 006 8114 from a mobile © Bereavement Support Network Ltd 2024
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