Royal Derby Hospital BB R46

Patient Information

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton

NHS Foundation Trust

A practical guide about what to do when someone has died

www.uhdb.nhs.uk

May we offer you our deepest sympathies

The death of someone you care about is a painful emotional experience. You may feel unsure about the practical things that now have to be done.

This booklet contains information and advice that we hope you will find useful at this difficult time.

Please remember that people are here to help. If you need any other information or support don’t be afraid to ask.

What do I do next?

All deaths that occur in the UK must be registered. This requires a Medical Certificate to be issued that states the cause of death.

When someone has died in hospital a medical certificate will be issued by the hospital or the death will be referred to the Coroner. Some deaths are routinely reported to the Coroner.

You will be advised which of these applies to you.

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When the hospital issues the medical certificate Certificates are usually available in the afternoon of the working day following death, but in some circumstances may take a little longer.

Please telephone the office on the day following the death - or for deaths occurring during the weekend, please telephone on the next working day.

You will be asked to leave a contact number and email address, if you have one.

Bereavement Service - Royal Derby Hospital Monday to Friday from 10.30am to 4.00pm (Closed on public holidays) Telephone: 01332 788328, 01332 787097, 01332 786036, 01332 785557 (Direct Lines) The Medical Examiners Service will send the Medical Certificate to Derby Register Office once they have spoken to you, at which point you can contact the Registrars for an appointment to register. We advise not to contact the Registrars Office until you have spoken to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

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When the Coroner is involved When the hospital is unable to provide a medical certificate, the death will be referred to the Coroner for investigations which are required by law without the agreement of relatives.

The death cannot be registered until the Coroner has finished the necessary enquiries.

When a death is referred to the Coroner you will need to telephone the Coroner’s Officer who will give you advice and guidance on what to do next.

Coroner’s Office Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm (Closed on public holidays) Telephone: 01629 535050

Medical Examiners Medical Examiners are independent senior doctors employed by the Trust. In the first few days after your loss you may receive a call from the Medical Examiners’ Office. The aim is for them to ensure that care and treatment were appropriate and the cause of death is accurate. The cause of death on the medical certificate will be explained to you and you will have the opportunity to ask questions or raise any concerns if you wish to do so.

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When a Hospital Post Mortem Examination is requested If a Coroner’s investigation is not required, doctors may ask you to agree to a post mortem examination. This may help the doctors provide more detailed information about the reasons for the death. It may also contribute to the development of new ways of treating future patients with similar problems.

If you agree to a consented post mortem examination the doctors will issue the medical certificate before it takes place so that you can proceed with the funeral arrangements.

Registering the death When the Coroner or Hospital has issued a Medical Certificate, the death must be registered within 5 days of the certificate being received by the Register Office.

Please telephone the Register Office directly to make an appointment. Alternatively, you can access the online appointment booking service through Derby City Council website and follow the link for registering a death.

The majority of deaths are registered by a relative of the deceased. The Registrar will allow other people to register the death only if there were no relatives available as below: • • • •

someone present at the death someone who found the body a person in charge of the body the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors

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A certified copy of the entry in the Register of Deaths - a Death Certificate - can be obtained for £12.50. You may require one or more copies for private pension and financial matters etc.

If it is difficult to attend the Derby Register Office, you may go to any Register Office in England and Wales. It will take a few days for the necessary certificate to be returned from Derby, which could cause a delay in the funeral arrangements.

The Derby Register Office Market Place Derby DE1 3AR Telephone: 01332 641680

Arranging to see the person who has died If you decide to use the services of a Funeral Director you will be able to arrange to visit the person who has died at their Chapel of Rest.

Alternatively, the mortuary also has facilities available for families should they wish to view the person who has died.

Appointments can be made by contacting the mortuary directly on 01332 785013 or 01332 787360.

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Arranging the funeral The funeral is a significant and very personal event for most bereaved people. Before making arrangements check that instructions regarding the funeral have not already been made by the deceased. Some people make a funeral arrangement plan with a local undertaker or leave their wishes in a future care record or their Will.

The majority of people choose to make their arrangements with a Funeral Director. You can make all the arrangements yourself if you wish.

The funeral ceremony may follow a standard format or a particular faith tradition. There are secular non-religious celebrants available too.

Woodland burial and other green options are available. For information please contact a Funeral Director or your relevant local authority. All the local authorities in this area have websites with helpful information.

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Derby: 01332 341012 www.derby.gov.uk/community-and-living/deaths-funerals-cremations Amber Valley: 01773 841565 www.ambervalley.gov.uk/community/birth-marriages-and-deaths/deaths-burialsand-cemeteries Erewash: 0115 907 2244 www.erewash.gov.uk/parks-and-gardens-section/cemeteries South Derbyshire: 01283 595782 www.southderbyshire.gov.uk/our-services/births-marriages-and-deaths/deaths Derbyshire Dales: 01629 761100 www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/community/births-deaths-and-marriages The important thing to remember is that you can choose what is most appropriate for you, your family and friends. Your option for cremation or burial is a matter of preference especially if the location of the final resting place is important.

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Choosing a Funeral Director Funeral Directors will manage funeral arrangements and give advice and support. Initial arrangements can be made with them before the death is registered.

A list of Funeral Directors can be found on Yell.com or in the local newspaper. Please check if the Funeral Director you choose belongs to a trade association. This requires them to provide full information about their services and prices.

Most Funeral Directors are available seven days a week and, if you wish, will visit you at home. They will ensure that the legal requirements are fulfilled and will explain clearly all the options available.

The Funeral Director can also help with your arrangements for someone to lead the ceremony if you wish. This person can also offer support and discuss the details with you. Make sure you tell the Funeral Director if there is a particular person you would like to fulfil this role.

Cremation or burial?

You may have decided this already; perhaps a preference has already been expressed. However, if you have any queries or if you feel unable to make up your mind, the Funeral Director or person leading the ceremony will be able to help you.

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Funeral costs Costs for the same services may vary considerably from one Funeral Director to another. You may wish to get more than one quote to compare costs.

‘Disbursements’ are fees paid to others, e.g. for crematorium, minister, newspaper announcements, flowers etc. Ask the Funeral Director for a written quotation detailing all these fees.

Funeral payments are normally recoverable from the deceased’s estate.

Financial help If you arrange a funeral you are responsible for paying the bill, so check where the money will come from first.

If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral that you have to arrange, the Funeral Director will be able to advise you. You may be eligible to apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment if you (or your partner) get one or more of the following: • • • • • • • •

Universal Credit Income Support Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Pension Credit Housing Benefit The disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit Child Tax Credit

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You might also be eligible if you’re getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.

You can still claim Funeral Expenses Payment if you’ve applied for these benefits and you’re waiting to hear about your claim.

You can make a claim by phone by calling the Government Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 1512012.

Complaints Most funerals are conducted well, but if you have a complaint you should contact your Funeral Director.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you can complain to whichever of the two trade associations listed below your Funeral Director belongs to: • •

The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)

NAFD SAIF Business Centre 618 Warwick Road 3 Bullfields Solihull Sawbridgeworth West Midlands, B91 1AA Hertfordshire, CM21 9DB Telephone: 0121 7111343 Telephone: 0345 2306777 Advice may also be obtained from your local trading standards department.

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Helpful contacts The Trust has its own chaplains, social workers and interpreters. Should you wish to see someone, you can contact them directly: Chaplains - 01332 789500 Interpreters - 01332 254617 Social Workers - 01332 785600 Your local church or religious community may be able to offer you help and support; don’t be afraid to contact them even though you may not be a practising member.

You may find it helpful to visit your own GP. We hope this brief guide has been useful to you.

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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.

This free of charge service provided by the Bereavement Support Network will not only actively reduce 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 to Stop Mail a comparable service can also be accessed from the Bereavement Register or Deceased Preference Service if you would prefer to use them.

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Reference: Royal Derby Hospital Bereavement Book Review Date: March 2027 Publication Date: March 2025

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The Hospital would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from services offering 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.

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.

www.stopmail.co.uk 0808 168 9607 from a landline 0333 006 8114 from a mobile © Bereavement Support Network Ltd 2025

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Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the buildings and grounds of Derby’s Hospitals. For advice and support about giving up smoking please call Free Phone 0800 707 6870.

Published by RNS Publications © Tel: 01253 832400 R48