Please accept our sincere condolences on your sad loss and hope that the information provided helps you with some of the formalities you may encounter following the loss of a loved one. University
Arrangement for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
What’s next?
You will need to make an initial phone call to the Bereavement Office after 1.30pm on the next working day after their death (weekdays only) on 01903 285261.
A confidential message service operates outside of our normal working hours or when we are speaking to other families, so please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please do not come to the Bereavement Office. When the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is ready, we will contact you with regards to co-ordinating your next appointment at the Registrar of births and deaths.
The process should usually be completed within 5 working days, and is dependent upon the availability of a doctor who was caring for your loved one. They are responsible for completion of the required documentation, unless HM Coroner requires further investigations.
Kindly note that the MCCD will be issued as soon as possible following your loss, however the doctor involved in the care of your loved one may be unable to complete this on the day of your initial phone call, but we will keep in contact with you as to when the MCCD has been completed.
The MCCD is now sent to the Registrar electronically and the release documents needed by the funeral directors to collect your loved one are retained in the Bereavement Office awaiting your notification of the funeral director of your choice.
We advise that a date for the funeral should not be booked until you have registered the death. Although all other funeral arrangements can be made at any time.
Medical Examiner
The Medical Examiner role has been introduced at the hospital to ensure the legal documentation is completed as soon as possible, if there are no indicators for them to refer to HM Coroner.
Medical Examiners are independent senior doctors employed by the Trust, who work alongside the bereavement team providing expert support and advice to doctors completing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) for adults.
The Medical Examiner will review the medical notes to ensure the correct cause of death is identified. The Medical Examiners’ Office may contact a designated family member to help you understand the cause of death and provide you with an opportunity to raise any concerns during the final illness and to ask further questions if you wish to do so. Although they may not be able to answer your questions immediately the Medical Examiner will be able to advise you of additional sources of information and support. The Medical Examiner Officers can be contacted on 01903 205111 ext. 85479 or by email on uhsussex.medicalexaminersoffice@nhs.net
Can my loved one donate tissue?
Yes, many people who die in hospital are suitable to donate tissue, regardless of their age or medical condition. Tissue donation can benefit the lives of others in a very special way. Tissues that can be donated include eye tissue, skin, bone, tendons and heart valves.
The donation will take place within 24-48 hours. You will be able to see your loved one afterwards and the donation will not delay any funeral arrangements.
If you would like more information about pacemaker and tissue donation then please contact the nurse in charge of the ward as soon as possible, ideally within 12 hours of your loved one’s death.
When you contact the Registrar
You will need to contact the Register Office to arrange a time when you can register the death.
It is important not to arrange the appointment at the Registrar’s Office until we have told you that the MCCD is ready.
Register Office appointment can be made either via telephone on 01243 642122 (for all offices), or online via www.eregistrar.westsussex.gov.uk/Bookings/DeathBookingProcess
While it is not essential, you should also take supporting documents that show your name and address (e.g. a utility bill) but you can still register a death without them.
One of the following can register a death:
• A relative of the deceased
• Someone who was present at the death
• Someone organising the funeral
You need to have with you if possible: Copies of the deceased’s:
• Medical (NHS) card if available
• Driving licence
• Council tax bill
• Marriage or Civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
• NI number
• Passport
• Proof of address (e.g.)
Utility bill
• Birth certificate
The Registrar will need to know the following:
• Date and place of death
• Full name (including any former names), date and place of birth
• Marital status
• Home address
• Occupation of the deceased
• The date of birth of the surviving partner
• Details of pensions or benefits
The Registrar will arrange with you which Funeral Director you would need the Certificate of Registration of Death (green) form to be sent to.
• A certificate for burial or cremation – known as the green form –this is needed by the funeral director
• A certificate for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) –Form DB8 together with a pre-paid envelope for you to send this off.
You may require extra Death Certificates
Death certificates may be needed by an Executor or Administrator. A death certificate is a certified copy of the entry of the death in the register. You may need certificates for;
Banks
Building Societies
Pension & Insurance claims
Premium Bonds and
National Savings
Life Insurance
Financial Contracts and Agreements
Certificates can be obtained at the time of registration or at any time afterwards for a small fee.
Leading to the B2187, A259 and WORTHING HOSPITAL Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2DH
In some circumstances it may be necessary for the doctor to refer the death to HM Coroner. There are specific circumstances, when the hospital doctor is required by law to report the death to HM Coroner. This may include the cause of death being unclear, sudden or suspicious or due to unnatural causes.
A referral to HM Coroner does not automatically mean a post mortem is required and many referrals are resolved with minimal delay.
The Coroner may order a post mortem in order to establish the cause of death and has the power to do so without the formal consent of the next of kin. In such circumstances the medical certificate will be issued by the Coroner’s Office who will contact you directly to advise when the certificate will be available at the Registrar’s Office for you to register the death.
If the Coroner allows the hospital to issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) the Bereavement Office will contact you, otherwise the Coroner’s Office should be in touch with you.
If you need to contact the Coroner’s Officers they are on 03302 225560.
They are open Monday – Friday only between the hours of 8am-4pm.
Viewing a deceased patient
When a patient dies in the hospital, they will be taken to the mortuary where they will remain until they are collected by the funeral director or Coroner’s transport service.
If you wish to view the deceased, you can discuss this with the Bereavement Team on 01903 285261. Please be aware the mortuary staff are not permitted to dress, apply make up or remove medical equipment.
You will, of course, also be able to pay your last respects at the Funeral Director’s Chapel of Rest, where they have specialist facilities.
Grieving
Grieving is a natural process that takes place after any kind of loss. When a loved one passes away the emotions experienced can be quite overwhelming. Although everyone reacts to bereavement differently, people do tend to experience similar feelings. These feelings take time to go through and cannot be hurried.
You may go from one feeling to another and back again. There is no set pattern and each individual can be affected in a different way.
Checklist
Arrange for tissue donation, if applicable.
It may be possible for your loved one to donate tissues to help others now they have died. If this is something you think they would want please call Tissue Services on 0800 432 0559 or contact the hospital staff where your loved one was cared for. Tissue Donation is time sensitive, so this is one area where it is very important to act quickly.
Notify close friends and family.
Every family is different, and there’s no one right way to do this. For some families, sharing the news in person or over the phone is critical. For others an email or text message may be acceptable. If possible, split up the task between several family members.
Decide on funeral plans.
A funeral director can help you arrange either a burial or cremation. We recommend checking reviews and prices for a few different funeral homes before making a decision, as both can vary widely. Cremation guidance can be accessed via www.gov.uk/government/publications/cremation-guidance-forapplicants
Arrange care for any pets or dependants.
If your loved one was responsible for caring for any person or pets, quickly find someone who can care for them temporarily while you reflect on the wishes of the deceased and make a long-term plan.
Secure major property.
If your loved one lived on their own, make sure his or her home and any vehicles are locked up. If it will sit vacant for some time, consider notifying the landlord and/or their neighbours, so they can help to keep an eye on it.
Notify the person’s employer.
If the deceased was employed (or actively volunteering), call to let them know that your loved one has passed away.
Re-direct post.
If the person lived alone, this will prevent mail from piling up and showing that the property is unoccupied. The mail may also help you identify bills that need to be paid and accounts that should be closed.
Junk mail can be stopped by contacting www.stopmail.co.uk or telephoning 0808 168 9607. This is a free service.
The Government website www.gov.uk/after-a-death also provides practical information on what to do following a death.
Who can I contact for support?
It is not unusual at times to feel that you are overwhelmed by the intensity of your grief. Friends and colleagues can help by letting you talk about it at your own pace for as long as it takes, by simply being there and acknowledging your feelings.
Although it is important to share your feelings with your family and friends, it can also be very helpful to find someone else to talk to and listen to how you are feeling.
If you feel the need to talk to someone sympathetic who is outside your immediate family you can contact your GP, the hospital chaplain, or the voluntary organisations listed in our booklet.
List of Support Agencies
Cruse Bereavement Support Line
Tel: 01273 234007
www.cruse.org.uk
WAY (Widowed and Young)
Self help support for men and women under 50 whose partner or spouse has died. www.widowedandyoung.org.uk
Child Bereavement UK
Helpline: 0800 0288840
www.childbereavementuk.org
The Samaritans
Tel: 116 123
www.samaritans.org
Age UK
Tel: 0800 019 1310
www.ageuk.org.uk
DWP Department for Work and Pensions
Bereavement Service
Tel: 0800 731 0469
Dying Matters
www.dyingmatters.org
Reference: Worthing Hospital Bereavement Booklet
Publication date: August 2024
Review date: August 2026
The Hospital 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 Hospital is grateful of their support it does not endorse or recommend any of the services that they provide.
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stopping mail
STOPPING JUNK MAIL
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.
You may need help, support or advice on what to do when someone dies in relation to probate.
We offer free guidance and advice on the legal and financial aspects of bereavement including your responsibilities and whether probate is required. Calls are
We understand how expensive funerals can be and we specialise in providing a valued service.
In recent years families have increasingly chosen more straightforward options. We can connect you with a local partner who can o er a simple and digni ed cremation from £990.00, as well as more traditional funerals where we can add personal touches to re ect your wishes.
