Help with your Bereavement
Information for relatives and friends
Bereavement Services
Helping families and friends with the administration processes when someone dies at all Wye Valley NHS Trust Hospitals.
A death, whether expected or not, can be difficult for everyone involved and many people are unsure of what to do afterwards.
Please accept our sincere condolences.
Making contact
Relatives are advised to telephone the Trust’s Bereavement Team soon at your earliest convenience, preferably later that day or the next working day Monday-Friday 9.00am-4.00pm on telephone number 01432 364166. Should you reach an answerphone message during working hours it is likely the Bereavement Team will be helping another family. Please leave your contact details and someone will return your call at the earliest opportunity.
Our Bereavement Service provides information and guidance and is here to help support families with the administrative processes required after someone dies. We also offer guidance and signposting to local support services if needed.
Once all paperwork has been completed, the Bereavement Service will liaise with your funeral director to enable them to take your loved one into their care (this paragraph is only relevant to Hereford County Hospital).
It is difficult to give an exact timescale for the above processes but please be reassured that all services work towards completion in a timely manner to the best of their abilities. Any untoward delays will be clearly communicated.
The Medical Examiner Service
Your contact details will be passed on to the Medical Examiner Service.
The Medical Examiner Service provides an independent review of all deaths; improving the accuracy of the death certificate (MCCD – Medical Certificate of Cause of Death).
As soon as the certificate has been completed, you will receive a call from the team who will advise you of the cause of death and discuss any queries you may have surrounding the care provided.
Once this has taken place, the certificate, together with your contact details, will be emailed to the Register Office.
Referral to the Coroner (if applicable)
The Medical Examiner Service will advise you if the Coroner has been contacted and the reasons why. It is then the Coroner’s decision as to whether a certificate can be issued, a post mortem is required or an inquest will be held.
If a certificate can be issued you will be contacted by the Medical Examiner Service to advise you of this. If a post mortem or inquest is required you will be contacted by the Coroner’s Officer who will discuss the process for completion of the death certificate.
How to choose a Funeral Director
You can contact a Funeral Director you would like to instruct as soon as you feel ready to do so. There are a few things you might like to consider when choosing which Funeral Director to use, from meeting the funeral requirements that your loved one has requested, costs and any other wishes you require. We as a Trust are unable to make any recommendations. Usually a personal recommendation from a friend or family member can be helpful.
However we are grateful to the local Funeral Directors who advertise their services in this Bereavement Booklet, who by doing so cover the cost of this booklet.
These are a few hopefully useful links to finding a good and local Funeral Director to you:
www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk
www.nafd.org.uk
www.saif.org.uk
Viewings (only relevant to Hereford County Hospital)
We would advise families who wish to see their loved ones to arrange this once they are in the care of the appointed Funeral Director. However, if this is not possible we may be able to accommodate a visit in the hospital mortuary at a mutually convenient time. Any such appointment should be arranged prior to travelling to the hospital to avoid any upset if we are not able to accommodate your request.
Register Office
The death must be registered with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages at the Register Office within 5 days of the MCCD or Coroner’s paperwork being received by the Register Office. There is no charge to register a death, however, there will be a charge for any death certificates you require.
It is the responsibility of a qualified informant to register the death. This will normally be a relative of the deceased or the person making the funeral arrangements. It may be that you are not related to the person who died but you were present at the death – this would qualify you to register the death. The Medical Examiner’s Office or Coroner’s Office will notify the Register Office of the appropriate informant to be contacted to register the death.
When the MCCD and informant information is received by the Register Office, they will contact the informant to arrange an appointment. The informant does not need to ring themselves, however, if they wish to provide their details to the Register Office prior to the MCCD being sent, they can complete an online information form through the Herefordshire Council website. This form also gives details about what information they need to bring to the appointment.
Appointments take place at the Hereford Register Office and typically take around 30 minutes.
The Registrar will need to know the following information relating to the deceased:
• The date and place of death (including postcode)
• The full name and surname the deceased was using at the time of their death
• Any names currently being used or previously known by. If the deceased was a woman her maiden name (in which she contracted her first marriage)
• If the deceased was male or female
• The deceased’s date and place of birth
• Their most recent occupation (and if retired)
• Their usual address (including postcode)
• Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds
• If the deceased was married or in a civil partnership
• Full name of spouse or civil partner (and if deceased)
• The occupation (and if retired) of their spouse or civil partner
• Their spouse or civil partner’s date of birth
• Informant’s details: full name, address (including postcode) and relationship to the deceased, and whether present at the death
• NHS number (if available)
The Registrar will explain the following:
• A Green Form (9) – Certificate for burial or cremation, which will be needed by your Funeral Directors.
• Death Certificates – there will be a fee for all copies of certificates. It is recommended that sufficient copies are obtained for probate, insurance policies, private pensions, savings accounts and investments. Further copies can be obtained at a later date, certificates ordered later don’t go up in price. All certificates, whenever bought, cost the same.
The Registrar can pass on the Blue Badges and Bus Passes for the deceased to the relevant Council Department. So please take these to your appointment if you wish the Registrar to do this on your behalf.
‘Tell
Us Once service’
‘Tell Us Once’ is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. When you have registered the death, the Registrar will give you a unique reference number to access the ‘Tell Us Once’ service online or by phone.
To use this service you will need the deceased’s:
• Date of birth
• Driving licence number (if applicable)
• Passport number (if applicable)
• Details of any benefits or entitlements the deceased was getting
• Details of any local council services they were getting
• Name and address of their next of kin
• Name, address and contact details of the person dealing with their estate (property, belongings and money), known as the ‘executor’ or ‘administrator’
You need permission from the next of kin, the executor, the administrator or anyone who was claiming joint benefits or entitlements with the deceased before you give their details.
What to do after someone dies: Tell Us Once – www.gov.uk
Is there any Bereavement Care provided by the Hospital?
The Hospital Chaplaincy Service is there to provide pastoral, spiritual and religious care for patients and their relatives.
Both Bereavement Services and Chaplaincy staff are able to provide you with practical advice during the early days of your bereavement.
Both can also help to signpost you to find ongoing support from among a wide variety of local organisations including voluntary organisations, support groups, and groups within churches and faith communities.
Here to support you
We would like to reassure you that the above services are here to guide and support you through all the necessary processes and answer any queries you may have at this difficult time.
Bereavement Team 01432 364166
Monday-Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm
Answer machine 24/7
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about the patient care received at the hospital, we advise you to talk with the nurse in charge of the ward or department manager in the first instance, as they are best placed to answer any questions or resolve issues quickly. If the relevant member of staff is unable to help, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 01432 372986 or email: pals@wvt.nhs.uk
Support and Advice
Please do not hesitate to contact the Bereavement Team for any further advice and signposted support.
People to inform
There are various people, companies and other interested parties who need to be informed of a death:
Legal / Financial
• Bank / Building Society / Credit Cards / Giro
• Solicitor
• Benefits Agency / Social Services
• Housing Department / Mortgage company
• Post Office (re-direct mail) Royal Mail Deliveries
• TV Licensing / Internet Provider
• Inland Revenue
• Newsagent / Delivery Companies
• Utilities (Gas / Electric / Telephone / Water)
• Insurance Companies
• Credit Card Companies
• Employer (Occupational Pension) / Trade Union
• Rental Companies
• Driving Licence Centre (DVLA)
• Council Tax Offices
• Dentist / GP / Optician
• Executors of the Estate (Will) tick box
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 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.
This free of charge service provided by the Bereavement Support Network will actively reduce the unwanted marketing mail but also can help reduce the likelihood of identity theft following the death of someone close. The information is not used for any other purpose and you only have to complete this once. Additionally, Stop Mail, a comparable service can also be accessed from the Bereavement Register or Deceased Preference Service if you would prefer to use them.
Support and advice
There are many individuals and groups on hand to help you come to terms with your grief, as well as offering practical assistance. Your GP can be a very important contact.
is a list of a few organisations you may find helpful.
Financial advice
Financial help may be available if you receive certain benefits. Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) before making any arrangements.
Enquiries about financial assistance can be made by calling: 0800 731 0469.
If you are in receipt of certain benefits the bereavement service will give you a leaflet issued by the Department for Work and Pensions – this will explain fully any financial assistance you may be able to access.
Probate and legal advice
Probate is a document issued by the probate registry confirming that an executor has the right to wind up the estate of the person who has died. The ‘estate’ is the house, money and savings left by someone who has died (probate may not be necessary if the estate is small).
If you have difficulty dealing with the deceased’s estate or possessions, seek advice from a solicitor or the Citizens Advice Bureau as soon as possible. If there is no Will, speaking with a solicitor may be helpful. Many solicitors are prepared to offer up to half an hour free legal advice.
If you need any further advice on probate please contact the Inheritance Tax and Probate helpline on 0300 123 1072 or access via: www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate
Reference: County Hospital (Hereford) Bereavement Booklet
Publication date: February 2025
Review date: February 2027
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.
