What to Do When Someone Dies
Practical advice and information
All of us at Willowbrook Hospice would like to express our sympathy to you and your family/friends for the loss of your loved one.
The death of someone close can be one of the most distressing experiences anyone has to face. Decisions need to be made at a time when you may have confusing thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is so easy to become overwhelmed and we hope that this booklet can make clear what needs to be done, and when.
If you have questions, about any aspect of bereavement, that haven’t been answered in this booklet, please contact our Bereavement Support Team on 0151 430 8736 or bereavement@ willowbrookhospice.org.uk Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm who will help you find the answers you need.
Bereavement Advice Centre can also offer information and advice on a wide range of issues surrounding bereavement at www.bereavementadvice.org or you can call them on 0800 634 9494 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Everyone here at Willowbrook works to help improve the quality of life for the people we care for, their families and our wider community. All of our care is provided free of charge to those who need it.
If you would like to be involved with the hospice in any way please contact us:
Willowbrook Hospice
Portico Lane
Prescot
Merseyside. L34 2QT
0151 430 8739
general@willowbrookhospice.org.uk
www.willowbrook.org.uk
All information in this booklet is correct at time of printing and may be subject to change.
WHEN SOMEONE DIES AT THE HOSPICE
What happens immediately after someone dies at the hospice?
You may react in one of many ways; there is no right or wrong way for people to behave when they are with someone who dies, or when they are told of a death. Our inpatient unit staff and bereavement support team are here to support you in whatever way you need.
If you would like help in telling other relatives of your loved one’s death we can do that for you. Likewise if you want a priest or other religious leader to attend the person who has died, we will help with contacting them for you.
There are a number of steps that need to be completed by law. The first is called the verification of death which will be completed by a doctor or specially trained nurse. This process includes making sure there are no signs of life, confirming the deceased person’s identity and the date & time they died.
Once you and other family/friends are ready the nursing staff will ‘lay out’ the body. Sometimes called performing the last offices, this usually involves washing the person’s body, maybe giving someone a shave, cleaning their mouth, dressing them in clean clothes etc… If you would like to be present when this is done or would like to help please tell a nurse and they will support you in this.
Your religion/cultural preference might mean that someone other than nursing staff should perform the last offices. We would usually have discussed this with you and your loved one before they have died so that we can best support you. Even if it hasn’t been discussed before death, we will still do all we can to ensure your loved ones body is cared for in a respectful and appropriate way.
If you are the next of kin, you will be asked if any jewellery your loved one is wearing is to be removed or whether you want them to continue wearing it. If it is to be removed, nursing staff will return it to you. If a next of kin is not present when a person passes away, any valuables/personal belongings will be stored securely to be collected at a more convenient time.
Will I be allowed to spend time with my loved one after they die?
It is completely up to you whether you would like to see the body of your loved one after death. If this is something you want to do, we will give you the privacy you need for as long as you need it.
For any family members that were not able to visit before death it can be helpful to view the body and spend time with the loved one who has passed away. Viewing the body is possible in the immediate hours after death. Please ask the nursing staff for further information.
For various reasons you may be unable to view a loved one’s body before they are taken into the care of a funeral director. If this is the case, your funeral director will let you know about making arrangements to visit your loved one whilst they are in their care.
Should children be allowed to see a body?
Children and young people may tell you they want to see the body. At a time when you are likely to be struggling with your own feelings, making a decision as to what will be helpful for your children can be so difficult. If a child wants to see the body after death it can help both now, and in the future, with coming to terms with the death. If you want to discuss this decision the ward staff and Bereavement Co-ordinator are happy to help.
Willowbrook Hospice works in partnership with Child Bereavement UK, an organisation that helps children and young people (up to age 25), parents, and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. They offer support in a variety of ways and will work with children and young people who are facing the loss of a parent or anyone else who is important to them, as well as supporting families after a loss.
They also offer information and advice on a range of issues such as viewing a body with your child and how to tell a child/young person that someone is not expected to live or has died.
We have a range of Child Bereavement UK information sheets that might help or you can take a look at their website www.childbereavementuk.org. For any further support you can contact them on 0800 02 888 40 or via live webchat Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
WHEN SOMEONE DIES AT HOME
Although you may have had the support of community nurses, carers, doctors, therapists etc whilst your loved one has been ill, there is no guarantee that any health professional will be with you when they die. This can be worrying for you and, in the heat of the moment, you might panic. The first official phone call you need to make is to the G.P. of the person who has died, who will then arrange a visit to confirm the death. If the death happens at night or out of surgery hours, when you call the surgery you will be given an out of hours service number. When you call that number, explain that you need a health professional to verify a death – this means they will confirm that death has taken place.
If your loved one has been cared for by a district nursing team you should also have their contact details to let them know they have died. Sometimes the district nurse will contact the GP on your behalf, so if you are unsure what to do, call the district nursing team first and they will guide you through the next steps.
You may already have agreed with your G.P. or nurse that calling for an ambulance will not be necessary when your loved one passes away. If you are unsure what to do then take advice from your GP or district nurse when you call them.
When the death has been verified, you can telephone a funeral director or religious leader. The funeral director will take the body of your loved one into their care at your request. If you prefer to keep the body at home until the funeral, for cultural or personal reasons, they will be able to advise you about this.
The G.P. will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), providing there is not a coroner’s investigation. This certificate will be sent electronically to the Registrar of the deceased person’s local council.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO NEXT?
The law states that all deaths need to be registered. For you to do this a doctor needs to issue a Medical Certificate that states the Cause of Death (MCCD). If the person has died in the hospice this certificate will be completed by a hospice doctor. If your loved one has died at home the certificate will be completed by their G.P. The only exception to this is if a death is referred to the coroner. See below for What happens if the coroner is involved?
Once a doctor has completed the Medical Certificate stating Cause of Death (MCCD) it will be sent electronically to the Registrar of the borough where the person died. See section on How do I register a death?
The Inpatient Unit staff will need to know if a cremation is planned as a special form has to be completed by two doctors.
You will be asked for the name of your chosen funeral director so we can arrange for them to collect your loved one’s body.
If your loved one has died in the hospice our staff will inform your loved one’s G.P. of their death.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CORONER IS INVOLVED?
In some circumstances the death may by law have to be referred to the coroner. This could happen when the cause of death is unclear or where there is concern about the potential of a work-related diseased being involved. In this circumstance a doctor cannot issue a certificate stating the cause of death without consulting the coroner. It is the coroner’s duty to ensure there is a clear understanding around the cause of death. The hospice staff will talk through why the referral has been made and will explain the process to you.
Although a referral may have been made, after reviewing the situation the coroner may give permission for the doctor to issue the medical certificate.
If the cause of death is unknown the coroner may also order a post mortem (examination of the dead body). Your consent is not required for this procedure although you will be informed of this decision.
If the coroner feels further investigation is necessary, an inquest may be ordered. A coroner’s inquest is held at the Coroner’s Court and examines all the circumstances around the patient’s care and death, also providing an opportunity for relatives to ask questions. Staff of the coroner will support you through this process. Visit www.sefton.gov.uk/births-marriages-and-deaths/coroners for further information.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE DECEASED PERSON WANTED TO DONATE ORGANS OR TISSUE FOR TRANSPLANTATION?
To donate organs after death, a person needs to die in hospital in specific circumstances. Many of our patients either die in the hospice or at home meaning organ donation won’t be possible. There are also certain medical conditions, including active cancer, that mean a person wouldn’t be able to donate their organs for transplantation.
If, however, someone who has cancer dies in a hospital it may be possible to donate corneas and some tissue. It is always best to have these discussions with a patient’s medical team prior to death. For more information visit NHS Organ Donation at www.organdonation.nhs.uk
My loved one has told me they would like to donate their body to a medical school so what should I do next?
Donating a body to a medical school is a valuable gift - this donation will become an important resource for training healthcare professionals or for research. Body donation, however, requires written and witnessed consent from the individual before they die. It cannot be agreed by a person’s friends or family after their death.
If you believe your loved one has consented to donating their body but are unable to locate the paperwork contact the Human Tissue Authority on 020 7269 1900 Mon – Fri 9 to 5.
For more information on the donation of a body, or organs and tissue not for transplantation visit www.hta.gov.uk
HOW DO I REGISTER THE DEATH?
All deaths must now be registered in person. This must be done within 5 days of the death; even if you do not have all the relevant information, detailed below, you must contact the Registrar withing 5 days.
The hospice, hospital or the deceased’s G.P. will send the Medical Certificate stating Cause of Death (MCCD) electronically to the Registrar. Once the Registrar has the MCCD they will contact you to make an appointment to register the death.
All deaths in Willowbrook Hospce will be regisered with St. Helen’s Registrar. For deaths that occur outside of the hospice, the registration takes place in the borough where the death occurs.
If you have any questions relating to this process, contact details for our local boroughs are below:
St. Helens Council Registrar on 01744 676789
Knowsley Council Registrar on 0151 443 2900
Who can register a death?
• A relative
• Someone who was present at the death
• The occupier of the house or an official from the public building where the death occurred, e.g. the hospice, hospital or residential home
• The person making the arrangements with the funeral director
In certain circumstances other people may be allowed to register a death. Please contact a Registrar on one of the above numbers for advice on this and any other matter relating to the registration of a death.
What do I need to register a death?
For all deaths, other than those referred to the coroner, the Registrar will ask for the following information about the deceased:
• Place and date of death
• Full name and surname of the deceased
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation (even if retired)
• Usual address
• The full name, date of birth and occupation of their spouse or civil partner (if applicable)
When you have registered the death a registrar will explain the Tell Us Once service. Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. They will either:
• complete the Tell Us Once service with you
• give you a unique reference number so you can use the service yourself online at www.gov.uk/whensomeone-dies or by phone
The registrar will give you a number to call. This includes a video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users and Relay UK if you cannot hear or speak on the phone.
Before you use the Tell Us Once service you will need the following details of the person who died:
• date of birth
• National Insurance number
• driving licence number
• vehicle registration number
• passport number
• the date they died
You’ll also need:
• details of any benefits or entitlements they were getting - for example State Pension
• details of any local council services they were gettingfor example Blue Badge
• name, address, telephone number and the National Insurance number or date of birth of any surviving spouse or civil partner
• name and address of their next of kin - if there is no surviving spouse or civil partner or their spouse or civil partner is not able to deal with their affairs
• name, address and contact details of the person or company dealing with their estate (property, belongings and money), known as their ‘executor’ or ‘administrator’
• details of any public sector or armed forces pension schemes they were getting or paying in to
You need permission from any surviving spouse or civil partner, the next of kin, executor, administrator or anyone who was claiming joint benefits or entitlements with the person who died, before you give their details.
If you choose not to use the Tell Us Once service or you need further information on what needs to be done the following government guide may be helpful www.gov.uk/ when-someone-dies
What will the Registrar do once the death has been registered?
The Certification of Registration of Death, usually called the death certificate, will be posted to you using First Class Mail. You will pay for each copy of the death certificate that you order. You will need more than one copy of the death certificate in order to close bank accounts, inform mortgage and insurance providers and so on. The Registrar will be able to advise you as to how many certificates to order, but bear in mind that extra certificates are more expensive to buy at a later stage. Photocopies of the certificate are not normally accepted for legal, financial and insurance companies and are a breach of copyright.
The Certificate for Burial or Cremation is sent by the Registrar to the relevant Crematorium, Cemetery, and Church etc. There is no charge for this certificate.
If you choose not to use the Tell Us Once service you will need to send the Certificate for Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Benefits (also known as a BD8 form) to the DWP. The Registrar will be able to tell you if you need this certificate. This certificate will be sent to you, by the Registrar, along with the death certificate. There is no charge for this certificate.
There will still be organisations/people you need to inform of the death such as landlords, banks, utility companies. See our helpful checklist of who needs to be notified about a death. These are the most common notifications that need to be made but there may be others.
This checklist may be helpful for notifying about the death:
q Children’s school/nursery
Domestic and personal
q Cancel appointments
q Council offices
q Gas/electricity/water
q Rental/hire purchase
q Telephone/mobile/internet
q Vehicle Licensing
q Social Services (cancel care)
q Clubs/associations
q Dentist
q Newspaper/milk deliveries
q Royal Mail - Post
q TV Licensing
q Landlord
Employment/Pension
q Dept of Works & Pensions
q Inland Revenue
q Professional Organisations
Legal/Financial
q Bank/Building Societies
q Insurance companies
q Store cards
Items that might need returning:
q Driving Licence
q Library cards
q Season Tickets
q Pension/benefits books
q Disabled parking permit
q Employer
q Trade Union
q Credit cards
q Solicitor
q National Insurance card
q Passport
RETURNING MEDICAL OR OTHER ASSISTIVE EQUIPMENT
Returning Medical & Assistive Equipment
St. Helens 01925 946000
Knowsley 0151 244 4380
Returning wheelchairs
St. Helens 01928 582939
Knowsley 0151 244 4180
Returning pendant alarms and other home monitoring services:
St. Helens 01744 676789
Knowsley Telecare 0151 433 2600
Stopping Junk Mail to the Recently Deceased.
If someone you know has died, the amount of unwanted marketing post being sent to them can be greatly reduced which helps to stop painful daily reminders.
By registering with the free service www.stopmail.co.uk the names and addresses of the deceased are removed from mailing lists, stopping most advertising mail within as little as six weeks. If you cannot access the internet you can call 0808 168 9607, where you will be asked for very simple information that will take only a few minutes to complete. Alternatively, ask the bereavement team for a leaflet that can be returned in the post.
