TheMKWay
Milton Keynes University Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust
Bereavement Information For relatives or friends This is your car parking permit
We wish to convey our deepest sympathy. The aim of this booklet is to give you support and guidance at what is a very difficult time. Bereavement is something which all people experience at some time in their lives and can leave you feeling all sorts of emotions. The hospital Bereavement Service will support you through the processes outlined in this book. Please contact them on 01908 996 155 / 996 154. If you would like to speak to a Hospital Chaplain you can do this via the hospital switchboard on 01908 660033 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You may want to feel connected to your faith community, or simply to have someone to listen to you at this very difficult time. Within this booklet is a contact list and a checklist to help you organise arrangements. It may be useful to get other members of the family or a friend to make some calls for you. If you have any comments about the end-of-life care your relative received, please let us know or contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), we will give you a letter about this.
Contents Car Parking for the Bereavement Service
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Car Parking for the Bereavement Service Map
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The Bereavement Service
3
The role of the Medical Examiner
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How to register a death
4
Organ and tissue donation
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Viewing in the Mortuary Viewing Suite
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The Hospital Chaplains
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The Coroner
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Hospital Post-Mortem
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Arranging the funeral and choosing a Funeral Director
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Bereavement Support Payment
12
“Tell us once” Service
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Counselling and Advice
15
Looking after Yourself
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To do list
17
Local Funeral Directors
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Car Parking for the Bereavement Service Please bring this yellow booklet with you if you are coming either to the bereavement office or for a viewing. It is your parking permit and needs to be placed in view on your dashboard to ensure you do not receive a parking ticket/fine. We have allocated spaces, so please follow these directions: • Enter the hospital site from H8 Standing Way. • Turn right at the roundabout, go past the emergency department on the left, over the zebra crossing, go round the bend in the road, past the Oak Wards. • Turn into Car Park C, the second entrance on the left. • There are two allocated spaces for the Bereavement Service, immediately on the left. Please refer to the map for your directions. If you are coming for a viewing please park as above and stay in your car and we will meet you. We will confirm this when booking a viewing time, especially if you are coming by taxi.
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Car Parking for the Bereavement Service
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What do I need to do? In the first instance please contact the Bereavement Office – 01908 996 155 / 01908 996 154 and leave a message. We will return your call to discuss the next steps. Bereavement Manager:
Sue Ferrara
Bereavement Officer:
Tina John
Medical Examiner Officer: Nurul Amin Medical Examiner Officer: Mary Plummer When a person dies in hospital a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) will be issued, provided there is no Coroner involvement. This Medical Certificate is not the official Death Certificate, but you will need it to register the death. One of the team of doctors that cared for your loved one will write the MCCD, which will then be checked by the Medical Examiner. The Medical Examiner’s Office will call the Next of Kin to discuss the cause of death and to ask if they have any concerns about care and treatment of their relative. The Medical certificate will only be issued once this has taken place.
The role of the Medical Examiner “The aim of the Medical Examiner is to provide an enhanced degree of independence and objectivity in the scrutiny of in-hospital deaths within the Trust, whilst improving death certification, referrals to the Coroner, and discussion of causes of death with relatives.” The National Quality Boards learning from Death guidance.
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How to register a death The Bereavement Service will explain to you the process of registration. We fully understand that you may wish to get started with your arrangements and will support you to do this whilst following the process that the law requires. Office numbers: 01908 996 155 or 01908 996 154 If you leave a message we will respond as quickly as we can. You may use our email: bereavementservice@mkuh.nhs.uk The office is open: 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holiday or weekends). Once the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been agreed and issued it will be scanned over to the Register Office. We will need the name, telephone number and e-mail address (if you have one) for the relative who will register the death. Once the Register Office have checked the certificate, an automated e-mail will be sent to the named relative to book an appointment to register the death. Once the appointment is booked a confirmation e-mail will be sent which has a pre-registration form attached. The preregistration form asks for the following information about the person who has died: •
Date and place of birth
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Home address
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Occupation (If married or a widow, the full name and occupation of their spouse)
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If the person was married, the date of birth of their spouse
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If the Bereavement Service did not provide an e-mail for the relative, the booking can still be made by calling 01908 372 101. The contact centre can check they have the documents required and book the registration appointment for you. Once the death has been registered in person, the registrar will issue the following: The formal Death Certificate. A charge is made for this and each copy you require. The number of copies you require depends on the size of the estate. You will need one for banks, insurance policies, investments, probate, or letters of administration. These are currently £12.50 each and will be given to you at your appointment. A green certificate for burial or cremation. This will be scanned by the Registrar to your Funeral Directors to allow the funeral to take place. The deceased cannot be moved from the hospital until the green form has been provided. The green form is free of charge. The Register Office now offers a “Tell Us Once” service. This cancels local authority departments, pensions etc and reduces the number of phone calls you will have to make. The Bereavement Service will send you the following documents: •
Hospital release form which you hand or e-mail to your chosen Funeral Director
•
Bereavement letter from our Risk and Clinical Governance team, which also contains the contact details for the PALS service
Arrangements for collecting property should be made directly with the ward that your loved one was admitted to. Please be aware that wedding rings and similar items will be left in place until the deceased is taken to the Funeral Directors of your choice. 5
Organ and tissue donation The organ donation law changed in England in May 2020 to an ‘opt out system’. This means that if you are not in an excluded group and have not confirmed whether you want to be an organ or tissue donor (either by recording a decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, or by speaking to friends and family) it will be considered that you agree to donate your organs and tissues when you die. You still have a choice about whether you wish for your relative to become a donor, and your faith, beliefs and culture will continue to be respected. For further information on the opt out system you can phone 0300 303 2094. For further information about organ and tissue donation visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk
Viewing in the Mortuary Viewing Suite The mortuary provides post-mortem facilities and optimum storage for both hospital and community deaths. If you would like to view your loved one in the hospital mortuary, please contact the Bereavement Service and we can arrange this for you. Please be aware that viewings are limited to weekdays only. On some occasions viewings are not possible, and you will be informed of this. If you would like a hospital chaplain to be present at your viewing, then please do ask. Post-mortems, if required, are carried out usually within 48 hours, although bank holidays may cause delays. The Coroner’s Officers will confirm when they take place. The mortuary staff care for every patient with respect and make arrangements for the deceased to be released from the hospital to the funeral directors, providing all documentation is completed. 6
The Hospital Chaplains The Hospital Chaplaincy offers pastoral, spiritual, and religious support for people of any faith, and those with a non-religious world view. You may simply appreciate having someone else to be with you for a while, or someone to talk to. You may like to arrange a blessing for your relative or feel you would be comforted by prayers being said with you. One of the chaplaincy team can usually be available. If you have specific religious needs you may prefer to have your own faith community leader with you. You can contact them directly or ask the Chaplain to try to do this for you. If you are not sure who to contact, the Chaplain can discuss with you who might be appropriate and can then make contact on your behalf. The Chaplaincy provides 24-hour support for patients, families, and staff. The Chaplaincy can be contacted via the Bereavement service, or you may telephone the direct line 01908 996 061. Please leave a message on the answer phone if the Chaplain is not available. Out-of-hours contact can be made through the switchboard on 01908 660 033. Holy books are also available from the Chaplaincy.
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The Coroner It will be necessary for the Coroner to be informed if, for example, your relative or friend’s death is sudden, unexpected or has had recent surgery. There are other reasons, but these are the most common. The Coroner is a qualified Lawyer who is responsible for inquiring into the circumstances of some deaths. You will be informed, as soon as possible, if the death has to be reported to the Coroner as this will have a bearing on the arrangements you can make. In these circumstances, the death cannot be registered, nor can the funeral take place, without the Coroner’s authorisation. However, even if the death has been reported to the Coroner, you should not delay in contacting a Funeral Director who will be able to explain the procedures to you and make the necessary arrangements for the funeral. The Coroner’s Office will contact relatives and inform them of the process. If you have any queries about the procedures involved, the Coroner’s Office or the hospital Bereavement Service will be able to help you. A Coroner can order a post-mortem examination without asking the relatives’ permission, although the relatives are informed. Depending on the cause of death, the Coroner may decide that no further investigation is needed. In these cases, the Coroner will complete the relevant paperwork and send it direct to the Register Office. You will be notified of this and can then arrange to register the death. In some circumstances, the Coroner may decide that a full investigation into the death should be held. These investigations are known as inquests and are held in public. If an inquest is to be held the Coroner’s Office will explain the procedures involved and advise you when and where the hearing will be held.
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Usually, the inquest is opened and adjourned in the first few days after the death and an interim certificate will be issued to your Funeral Director at this stage to allow the funeral to take place. The inquest is normally concluded at a later date and the death cannot be registered until this process is completed.
Hospital Post-Mortem Request for Consent to Hospital Post-Mortem – when a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and formal notice has already been issued. If the cause of your relative or friend’s death is quite clear the doctor will have provided a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and a Formal Notice that the Medical Certificate has been signed. If the death was known to be caused by a natural illness but the doctors involved with your relative’s care wish to know more about the cause of death and study effects of treatment, they may ask you for permission (consent) to carry out a Post-Mortem examination. Consent You will be asked for your consent to a Post-Mortem being conducted, and to confirm this officially, you will be asked to sign a consent form. We believe families should be given the opportunity to understand why a Post-Mortem is suggested, the process involved, and your rights in the decision making. You can choose to limit the extent of the examination and you can find out more details about this and other issues about the Post-Mortem examination from a booklet produced by the Department of Health called ‘Guide to Post-Mortem’.
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This booklet explains in more detail: •
Limited Post-Mortem examination
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Organs being taken or held for further examination
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Disposal of any tissue or organs taken
•
Medical research and education.
If you do not wish to give consent It is entirely your decision whether you give consent for a Hospital Post-Mortem and if you decide not to you can still register the death and hold a funeral in the normal way. Your decision will not affect either you or anyone else in the future. Further Information: www.mkuh.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflet/a-simpleguide-to-the-post-mortem-examination-procedure
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Arranging the funeral and choosing a Funeral Director You do not have to wait until you have registered the death before contacting a funeral director, but if there is a delay for the certificate for any reason the funeral may be delayed. Funeral Directors (or Undertakers) offer advice and a choice of arrangements at varying prices. These can be quite costly affairs. Always ask to see a brochure and price list before you decide. It might be worth contacting more than one to compare prices. We have a list of local Directors which you can obtain from the Bereavement Officer. Some families wish to conduct their own funerals. To get more advice about arranging the funeral yourself contact www.naturaldeath.org.uk or Tel: 01962 712690. The Bereavement service will be able to give you a brief outline of what is required. The www.direct.gov.uk website is full of very useful information, on matters around after-death care.
After the Funeral Settling the deceased person’s estate can be confusing, timeconsuming, and distressing. If there is a Will these wishes should be carried out. You may need to use the services of a solicitor. However, Probate is possible to do yourself.
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Bereavement Support Payment At the time of writing, some funeral directors are able to receive this directly from the DWP. Please ask your funeral director for more information. Apply online This is a trial service and it will only allow a limited number of daily applications. Apply by phone Bereavement Service helpline Telephone: 0800 151 2012 Welsh language: 0800 731 0453 Textphone: 0800 731 0464 Welsh language: 0800 731 0456 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 151 2012 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Apply by post To get a claim form, you can either: • Download a Bereavement Support Payment form (BSP1) • Contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus to get one through the post Send it to the address on the form.
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“Tell us once”
A service provided at the Register Office When someone has died there are lots of things that need to be done at a time when you are least likely to want to do it. The death needs to be registered with the Registrar and once registration is complete, several Government organisations must be contacted and given the same information. The Registrar will provide a letter containing a unique reference number and contact details to enable this to be done by phone or 24/7 online. It saves you having to repeat yourself with all the personal details and can be used up to 28 days after the death is registered. It is possible to report the death to these organisations and services if you decide not to use the service. Below shows the departments that are included in the Tell Us Once Service: Local Council • Housing benefit office • Council tax benefit office • Council tax • Collection of payment for local services • Libraries • Electoral services • Blue badge • Adult services • Children’s services • Council housing HM Passport Office
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Ministry of Defence, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency • War pension scheme Department for Work & Pensions • Pension, disability and carers service • Job Centre Plus • Overseas Health Team HM Revenue & Customs • Child benefit • Child tax credit & working tax credit • Personal taxation Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency The information you give us will be treated securely and confidentially. The organisations who are contacted will use the information to update records, to end services, benefits and credits as appropriate, and to resolve any outstanding issues. They may use this information in other ways, but only as the law allows. It will help if you have the following information with you, about the person who has died, when you use the service: • Their National Insurance number and date of birth • Details of any benefits or services they were receiving • Their death certificate • Their driving licence or driving licence number • Their passport or passport number and town/country of birth
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Counselling and Advice People react to a death in many ways. Some find it hard to talk about the experience, some find it helps. Some people feel guilty or even angry. Some work through their grief quicker than others. We all cope differently, and because of this you need to respect other people’s feelings and just be aware that it is their way of coping. If you need help to come to terms with your sadness and feel that outside help may be of use please see the contact list below for names and numbers.
Looking after Yourself The death of a family member or a friend can arouse emotional responses that you may not have experienced before. Here are a few suggestions that you may find helpful: •
Allow yourself time to rest, think and sleep
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Make time with family and friends
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Eat regularly
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Try to avoid making any major decisions too quickly
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Keep to a routine to help you get through one day at a time
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Schedule activities to get you through the worst times
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Accept your feelings as normal
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Vent your feelings (talking, crying, writing, physical exercise, listening to music, compiling an album or box of memories)
•
Most importantly be patient, kind and gentle with yourself
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Members of your caring team who are here to help you Sue Ferrara Tina John Chaplaincy Nurul Amin Mary Plummer
01908 996155 01908 996154 01908 996061 01908 996292 01908 995521
If you need to speak to someone urgently you can ring the hospital switchboard on the number below and ask for the Chaplaincy team to be bleeped. Hospital Switchboard 01908 660033 The Good Grief Trust (National Bereavement Partnership helpline) www.thegoodgrieftrust.org
0800 448 0800
Samaritans www.samaritans.org
116 123
Child Bereavement UK www.childbereavementuk.org
01908 550 895 08000 288 840
Lesbian & Gay Bereavement Project www.switchboard.lgbt
0800 0119 100
Cruse Helpline www.cruse.org.uk/about/
0808 808 1677
Silverline www.thesilverline.org.uk
0800 4 708090
MK Bereaved Parents Group www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/coin/miltonkeynes-bereaved-parents-group
07917 743816
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To do list: this is a guide; it is not definitive. Organisation
Contact details
Executor of Will / Solicitor Probate
Gov.uk website
* State pension and benefits Private pension
0800 731 0469
Insurance company Bank/Building Society Mortgage provider, housing association *Council housing office *HM Revenue and Customs tax office School, college Workplace, Trade union Utility providers Gas Electricity Water board Telephone TV/Internet Post Office Car insurance
*DVLA *Passport Office Social Services Job Centre
Doctor Sporting/social clubs *Denotes services that are included in the Tell Us Once Service
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For your information the following Funeral Directors provide a service to the bereaved in Milton Keynes.
Co-operative Funeral Services Bletchley Leighton Buzzard Stony Stratford Wolverton
01908 646424 01525 370272 01908 565353 01908 311355
Country Funerals New Bradwell Towcester
01908 314051 01327 351500
S.R. Dillamore Ltd Leighton Buzzard
01525 372210
Finch and Sons Bletchley
01908 367777
Haseldine Funeral Services Ltd Cranfield
01234 757529
Heritage & Sons Bletchley Buckingham Winslow
01908 372700 01280 813188 01296 713341
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H. W. Mason & Sons Bletchley Newport Pagnell Stony Stratford
01908 642700 01908 611112 01908 561561
MK Family Funeral Services Emerson Valley
01908 505570
Muslim Funeral Service Mohammed Naseem
07930 663129 07507 853185
Neville’s Funeral Services Woburn Sands Ampthill
01908 588490 01525 406132
J. White Towcester
01327 359266
Most of these companies have websites if you need more information before you phone. If you have access to a computer you can look on a site called www.funeralmap.co.uk It will give you an indication of the services that are provided and some indication of costs likely to be incurred. If you are receiving certain state benefits you may be eligible for some financial support.
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The Trust 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 grateful of their support it does not endorse or recommend any of the services that they provide. Please note, whilst information is correct at the time of publication, this may be subject to future change.
STOPPING JUNK MAIL If someone you know has died, we can reduce the amount of unwanted marketing post being sent to them, stopping painful daily reminders. By registering with our free service, the names and addresses of the deceased are removed from mailing lists, stopping most advertising mail within as little as six weeks.
Call: 0333 006 8114 OR
Visit our website: www.stopmail.co.uk bereavement support network stop mail
here to help
Calls are charged at standard landline rates. Calls from mobiles are included in inclusive call packages. © Bereavement Support Network Ltd 2026
Do you need help with
Probate? You may need help, support or advice on what to do when someone dies in relation to probate. It may not always appear obvious if it will be required.
Call: 0333 240 0360 We offer free guidance on the legal and financial aspects of bereavement including your responsibilities and whether probate is required. You may need to establish whether a property is held in joint names or tenants in common, we can perform a simple check at no cost to establish the title deeds. This service is provided by
bereavement support network here to help
Connecting you with managed and D.I.Y. Probate Solutions Calls are charged at standard landline rates. Calls from mobiles are included in inclusive call packages.
Probate Solutions for cars 7KH GHDWK RI D IDPLO\ PHPEHU FDQ EH D YHU\ GLIĀFXOW DQG traumatic experience and if you are trying to sell a vehicle that belonged to a deceased family member or friend you currently have limited options. Auto Matters makes things very simple without you having to leave your home. Our free service helps to overcome all of these problems. We will provide payment to yourself, an executor or a solicitor before we move the vehicle.
To get a valuation of the car, please visit www.automatters.co.uk or call 0333 006 2904
AM AutoMatters Funded by
The Bereavement Support Network
bereavement support network here to help
Country Funerals Towcester
Towcester 01327 351500
(24 hours) Independent Funeral Directors 1, Sponne House Centre, Watling Street West Towcester, Northants NN12 6BY Shaun and Melanie, have over 30 years’ experience in the local funeral business, providing a service that will meet all your needs and expectations, with care, compassion and professional knowledge. To celebrate the life of a loved one and tailor make the arrangements along with their wishes. Modern facilities in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Remembrance room, disabled facilities and parking close by. Please feel free to view the facilities before or at time of need, alternatively, make arrangements in the comfort of your own home.
Every life deserves a story told with warmth, dignity and care. • Bespoke services and ‘blank page’ tributes, written from scratch • Compassionate support and guidance throughout • Glowing family feedback and recommendations • Serving Milton Keynes, Northampton, Buckingham and Bedford • Cremations, burials, memorials & celebrations after direct cremation
Complete cremation funeral, including local fees, start from £3390. “No service” cremation from £1250, inclusive of fees.
enquiries@countryfunerals.uk www.countryfunerals.uk Price correct at time of publication but may be subject to change
07775 630404
juliegowen69@gmail.com www.juliegowencelebrant.co.uk Call for a warm, no-obligation chat
H.W. MASON AND SONS Funeral Directors
Whatever your funeral needs we are here for you Contact our experienced and compassionate staff to help you every step of the way. We are an independent, family owned funeral directors with well appointed premises, dedicated chapels of rest, beautiful gardens and our own stonemasons.
• Traditional & Green Funerals • Direct Unattended Cremations • Prepaid Funerals • Monumental Masons • Competitive Pricing • 24 Hour Service
Newport Pagnell Office
Stony Stratford Office
Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Office
9 High Street, Newport Pagnell Buckinghamshire MK16 8AR Tel: 01908 611112 (24 Hours) Email: newport@hwmason.co.uk
68a Wolverton Road, Stony Stratford MK11 1DT Tel: 01908 561561 Email: stony@hwmason.co.uk
Bridge House, 97 Victoria Road Bletchley MK2 2PD Tel: 01908 642700 Email: bletchley@hwmason.co.uk
When all you want is either a simple cremation or funeral We understand how expensive funerals can be and 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 offer a simple and dignified cremation from £990.00, as well as more traditional funerals where we can add personal touches to reflect your wishes.
CREMATION SUPPORT Supporting familiesnationally nationally Supporting families
admin@cremationsupport.co.uk
To discuss how we can provide a discreet and caring service for your loved one and confirm a fixed price:
call
0808 169 8454
Direct Cremation is from
£990.00
Price valid at time of publication but may be subject to change.
Feedback Following this time of sadness, we invite any comments with regard to your relative’s end-of-life care so that we can learn and develop our services. Please use the Freepost address below to share your thoughts. If you could tell us the ward area and name of your relative that would be helpful but this information is not essential. Attention of Sue Ferrara Bereavement Manager Freepost RLXB-TUUR-JCLS Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Standing Way, Eaglestone Milton Keynes MK6 5LD Please note that although Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust may include links to external websites, the Trust is not responsible for the accuracy or content therein.
We ask for information about you so that you can receive proper care and treatment. This information remains confidential and is stored securely by the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018/GDPR. Further guidance can be found within our privacy notice found on our Trust website: www.mkuh.nhs.uk Author: Bereavement Manager Date published: 11/2025 Date of review: 11/2028 Version No: ORG/PI/5/V8 Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Standing Way, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, MK6 5LD © Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Published by RNS Publications © Tel: 01253 832400 R1