North Devon Hospital Emergency Department Bereavement Booklet
Making arrangements following a bereavement
Making arrangements following a bereavement
Emergency Department
Information in other formats
If you need this information in another format such as audio tape or computer disc, Braille, large print, British Sign Language or translated into another language, please telephone 01271 314090.
If you require assistance urgently for religious reasons, please let us know immediately
North Devon District Hospital 01271 322404 (Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm) or out of hours please call the hospital switchboard on 01271 322577 and ask for the Mortuary on call.
South Molton Community Hospital 01769 572164
“Memories are the loveliest thing, They last from day to day, They can’t get lost; They don’t wear out, And can’t be given away.” (Anonymous)
Our condolences
When someone dies, particularly if it is in our Emergency Department, it is often sudden and unexpected and therefore especially difficult for you as a relative or close friend.
We would like to express our sincere condolences to you at this sad time. Bereavement is a time of grief and sorrow and the death of someone close can come as a dreadful shock.
Some people may feel overwhelmed, confused, even numb at first. Crying and feeling angry or guilty are also natural feelings that can last a while. Questions such as “why us?” and “if only?” are normal.
Your concentration, appetite and sleeping may be affected and you may feel more tired than usual. Some people feel anxious or experience feelings of panic and it is quite natural to feel depressed. Your life has been turned upside down and it will take time to adjust. Each of us will react in different ways at different times and there are no ‘set’ feelings that you ‘should’ have.
Mourning is an essential yet painful process and sharing our emotions with someone else can often help. An important first step to think about is whether there are people you might contact to support you, or even be with you, over the first few days.
Bereavement Support Office
We provide sympathetic support and assistance to bereaved relatives and carers to help them through the procedures following the death of a patient at the hospital. This booklet is designed to help you cope with these practical steps over the coming few days or weeks.
To ensure that the practical arrangements are handled in a caring, professional and timely manner, the Bereavement Support Officers can help you in your dealings with the following people:
• The Mortuary staff
• Hospital Chaplains
• Medical Examiners
• Funeral Directors (undertakers)
• The Coroner and Coroner’s Officers
• The Registrar of births, deaths and marriages
Your first point of contact is the Bereavement Support Office at North Devon District Hospital. This office is open from 9am4pm, Monday - Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Please call the office as soon as you are able, to give us your contact details, on 01271 322404.
If the line is busy please leave a message on the answer phone and one of the team will return your call as soon as possible. The Bereavement Support Officers are available for advice and information so please call them if you have any questions. You can also email them at rduh.nddhbereavementsupport@nhs.net
How to find the Bereavement Support Office
Go through the main entrance to the lifts and take the lift to level zero. Turn right out of the lifts and walk a short way down the corridor, the Bereavement Support Office is a door on your left. Please press the buzzer to let us know you have arrived.
We kindly request that you let us know when you are coming so that we can be sure there is someone available to assist you.
Clothing and valuables
These will usually be collected from the hospital by your chosen funeral director. If you need items urgently, please contact us so that this can be arranged.
Paying last respects
It may be possible for you to spend time with the deceased, please telephone the bereavement support office on 01271 322404 to discuss this. If you would like the Hospital Chaplain to be present, please let us know and we will try to arrange this for you.
You may prefer to wait until the deceased is in the care of your chosen funeral director. However, you should be aware that some direct cremation companies do not provide this service.
Medical Examiner service
A Medical Examiner is a senior doctor who has not been involved in the care of the deceased. Their job is to provide an independent review of the care received during the hospital admission.
As part of this process the Medical Examiner’s Officer will phone to explain about the service and to offer you an opportunity to ask any questions or raise any concerns that you may have about the care whilst in hospital.
During this call the Medical Examiner’s Office will tell you what the cause of death will be as recorded on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).
Once the MCCD has been written by a doctor from the team who looked after the deceased, it will be emailed directly to the Devon Registration Service. We will give them your contact details and they will call you as soon as they are ready for registration of the death to go ahead.
Our Medical Examiner’s team will arrange for the MCCD to be issued as quickly as possible. The registration service states that a death should be registered within five days. On occasions this process may take longer, please do not worry, the Registrar stays in contact with the Medical Examiner’s Office so they will be aware of any delays.
Coroners post mortem
Sometimes the Coroner will decide that there must be a post mortem and/or an inquest. If this is the case the Medical Examiner’s team will let you know, and the Coroner’s Office will contact you. If you have any questions about the involvement of the Coroner, the Medical Examiner’s team can explain this to you in more detail. If you need to contact the Coroner’s Office they can be contacted directly via their email coroner@devon.gov.uk or by telephone on 01392 383636.
Hospital post mortem
A hospital doctor may ask your permission to carry out a post mortem examination to further understand the cause of death and to help with future diagnosis and treatment for other patients. It is up to you whether you give your consent for this to take place. The Bereavement Support Officers will provide you with information about the examination so that you are able to make an informed decision before you give consent. This examination does not usually delay arrangements for the funeral.
Arranging the funeral
You do not have to have a funeral ceremony, religious minister, or use a funeral director.
If you wish to use a funeral director, you do not need to wait until the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been completed before contacting them. However, any provisional arrangements can only be finalised once the funeral director has received the certificate for burial or cremation (green form) from the Registrar following registration of the death.
Funeral options
There are different options for the funeral, including burial or cremation, using a funeral director, natural/green burial service or a direct cremation service.
Some of the things you might want to ask before making a choice include:
• Who will collect and care for the person who has died?
• Can we come and visit them while they are in your care?
• Are you able to dress the deceased or remove a pacemaker if fitted and does this incur a charge?
• Where will the person who has died be cremated (if direct cremation)?
• What is the full breakdown of any additional costs?
Direct cremation is usually a fixed-price option with no service or ceremony for mourners to attend. If you have chosen to use a company that specialises in direct cremation services, it is important for you to know that they may not offer the same service as a local funeral director.
If you are unsure of the wishes of the deceased regarding the funeral, you may find they have included this in their Will. If you held Power of Attorney for the person who has died, please be aware that this ceases on their death. The Executors of the Will – if there are any – would usually take over arrangements.
Funeral directors are valuable sources of information and advice and most are open seven days a week. The cost of a funeral can vary greatly so you may wish to ask for a brochure and price list to compare costs before making a decision.
If you receive state benefits you can apply for help in paying for funeral costs. You can obtain form SF200 from your local Department for Work and Pensions Office or Job Centre Plus. Please check what costs the social fund will cover. Your funeral director can also advise you, or you can go to: www.gov.uk/ funeral-payments. You can also call the Department for Work and Pensions Customer Service line on 0800 731 0469.
Tissue donation
Some people have made a decision to donate organs and tissues after their death. The deceased person may have discussed donation with you during their lifetime.
If you wish to consider donation, eyes for corneal transplant may be donated up to 24 hours after death. Donation will not delay funeral plans or alter the appearance of the deceased.
If the person who has died has completed forms regarding donation of their body to medical science you should contact the telephone number on the form straight away. Please also let your funeral director know. You cannot usually donate the body on someone’s behalf after their death as this has to be done by the person in life, however, it is possible to donate the brain and spinal cord for research into diseases such as dementia. There is a very short timescale after a death for this to be arranged, so if you would like more information you are advised to make immediate contact with:
• NDDH Bereavement Support Office: 01271 322404 (in office hours)
• NHS Blood and Transplant National Helpline referral centre on: 0800 432 0559 (24 hour pager)
• S.W. Dementia Brain Bank, Bristol: 0117 414 7821
Hospital chaplaincy and pastoral care
The Hospital Chaplaincy team are here to support you and your family through this emotional time. This support is available for everyone and is not dependent on belonging to any faith group.
At NDDH, the Hospital Chapel and Faith Centre on level one and the Garden of Remembrance opposite the main hospital entrance are always open for private reflection.
During this time you may feel that you need the support of others. It may help to speak to someone about your feelings. This is often a difficult time for family and friends too and they may be afraid to speak about your loved one for fear of upsetting you. You may need to take the first step and let them know you would like their support.
The Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Service are here to support you and, if you wish, they can put you in touch with a minister of your own faith or denomination. They can be contacted on 01271 322362 or via the hospital switchboard on 01271 322577 or you can email them on rduh.chaplaincy-northern@nhs.net
Registering the death
The Medical Examiner’s team will contact you to explain the content of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). They will scan the MCCD directly to the registration service along with your contact details, the Registrar will then contact you to make an appointment to register the death. If the death is being dealt with by the Coroner, the Coroner’s Office will contact the registration service directly giving them authorisation to register the death. Your contact details will be passed to the registration service, as soon as they have received the Coroner’s authorisation the registration service will contact you to arrange an appointment.
In order to register the death you must be either a relative of the deceased, have been present at the time of death or be the person making the funeral arrangements. If you need to contact the Devon Registration Office, their number is 0345 155 1002.
This line is open 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday, 9am - 1pm Saturday. The Registrar will talk to you about the person who has just died and you will need to know the following:
• The full names and surname (and maiden/previous surname)
• The date and place of their death
• Their last permanent address
• The date and place of their birth
• Their occupation (or former occupation if retired)
• If married, the name, occupation, date and place of birth of their marriage partner
The Registrar will tell you how to order copies of the death certificate.
You will need to get copies of the death certificate for a number of official purposes. We cannot say how many you will need as individual circumstances vary. As an example you may need copies for such things as insurance, premium bonds, bank accounts and private pensions. There is a fee for the death certificate and any copies you request. Some organisations will need a certified copy, but some will accept an electronic copy or photocopy - please check with them what you will need to provide.
If there has been a Coroner’s post mortem, the Coroner’s Office will issue the required information to the registration service once their enquiries are complete. You will then complete the registration of the death as described above.
If there is to be a Coroner’s inquest, the death is not registered at this stage; the Coroner’s Officers will explain the process to you.
If you need to contact the Coroner’s Office they can be contacted directly via their email coroner@devon.gov.uk or by telephone on 01392 383636.
Letting people know about the death
When you speak to the registration service they will offer you their “Tell Us Once” service. They are able to pass on the relevant information about the person who has died to the Department for Work and Pensions, and other organisations such as: H.M. Revenue and Customs, Passport Service, Council Tax Office, Electoral Service, and the DVLA. As it may be a few days before this can be done, you can put an immediate stop to State Pension and Benefit payments by calling the Department for Work and Pensions Customer Service line on 0800 731 0469. They can also advise on bereavement benefits and help with funeral costs.
People you may need to notify:
Legal/Financial
q Bank/Building Society
q Insurance companies
q Solicitor q Credit card companies
Employment/Pension
q Dept for Work & Pensions q Employer
q Social Security office q Trade Union
q Inland Revenue
Domestic & Personal
q TV Licensing q Vehicle Licensing
q Gas/Electricity/Water q Council Offices
q Newspaper/Milkman
q Telephone Companies
q Cancel appointments
q Clubs/Associations
q Rental Companies q Royal Mail deliveries
Items that may need returning:
q Pensions/Benefits books q Passport
q Driving Licence
q National Insurance card
q NHS equipment on loan q Library cards/season
q Store cards/Loyalty cards tickets
Grief in children and adolescents
Generally children do not understand the meaning of death until they are three or four years old. However, they feel the sense of loss of a close relative or friend in much the same way as adults. Even in infancy, it is clear that children grieve and feel great distress. Children experience the passage of time differently to adults and can appear to overcome grief more quickly. However, children in their early school years may need reassuring that they are not responsible for the death of a close relative as they often blame themselves for one reason or another.
It is important that the grief of a young person is not overlooked as they will often not want to burden parents by talking about their feelings. It can be helpful to include them in the arrangements.
The Bereavement Support Office hold leaflets with more information about talking to children and teens about grief and death. If you would like us to send or email any over, please let us know.
Remembering
Everyone will have their own way to remember the person who has died. Talk about them and mention their name often and put the emphasis on the good things that happened when they were alive. Members of the family or close friends may appreciate a photograph or small object as a reminder. Most important of all will be your own memories.
For those who have been close relatives or friends the process of adjustment to their loss may take a while. Try to avoid making hasty decisions during this time, especially if you are living alone.
Questions after a death in the Emergency Department
You may be feeling bewildered and if you have any anxieties or questions please ask the staff in the Emergency Department or ring the number below at any time. The Medical Examiner’s Office (see page 5) will contact the bereaved in a few days to provide information and to answer any questions.
If you require further information such as events of the day or medical details, it may be helpful to talk to a consultant from the emergency department. Please contact the Bereavement Office on 01271 322404 to arrange a conversation. The office is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). You can also email them at rduh.nddhbereavementsupport@nhs.net.
You or another family member/friend may also receive a letter from us in the emergency department inviting you to discuss such details. Please feel free to pass this on if there is someone who might benefit. This invitation stands for as long as you need, whether it is for a few weeks or many months after.
For details of our Hospital Chaplaincy Service, please call 01271 322362 or call the hospital switchboard on 01271 322577 and ask them to contact the Chaplaincy. You can leave a message at the Hospital Chapel and Faith Centre, level one, NDDH Hospital. You can also ask your own pastor, minister or priest or other religious or spiritual leader to contact them on your behalf.
Your general practitioner (GP) is concerned with all aspects of your care, especially at this difficult time.
Probate and legal advice
If you have difficulty in dealing with the deceased’s property, possessions or guardianship of their children, 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 of free 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).
Although settling the estate of the one who has died can be confusing and distressing, obtaining probate for an estate through the Probate Registry can be quite simple, though a little time consuming. This can reduce costs considerably for the Executor. (Probate is the court’s authority to administer a deceased person’s estate). If you are the Executor, it is your responsibilty to see that the person’s wishes, as you understand them, are carried out. This will include payment of funeral expenses, debts and taxes, as well as the disposal of their possessions and assets.
If it seems likely to be complex it may be worth using solicitors and accountants to sort it all out. Fees will be charged for those services and they will come out of the estate. You will need to make it clear precisely what work they need to do for you.
Whilst this is going on, access to monies in the estate can be difficult but banks and building societies may write a cheque out of the estate to cover funeral expenses even before probate is granted.
Further information and support
Check for any library books that might need returning.
Any large items of NHS or Social Services equipment should be returned, please contact Millbrook Healthcare in Exeter, 0330 124 4491 for advice.
Bereavement is a very personal event and you may go though a range of emotions and reactions. This can be very upsetting but realising that these feelings are quite normal may help.
Grief may affect you emotionally, physically and mentally or you may be too shocked to feel anything at first.
It is important to ask for help and support. This may be from family and friends initially.
Your doctor can help if you feel the need for medical support to help you through your bereavement. There is help available and you shouldn’t hesitate to contact your family doctor.
Cruse Bereavement Care provides free practical and emotional support for anyone who has been bereaved.
Help is also available from most local Church or faith groups. Pastoral support can be beneficial in helping anyone come to terms with loss, helplessness and grief experienced in bereavement. The Hospital Chaplaincy Service is available for anyone, to support you as appropriate.
Helpful contacts
Cruse Bereavement Care
Offers free information, advice and support to bereaved people.
Provides advice, information and support to people in later life.
0800 678 1602 www.ageuk.org.uk
Child Bereavement UK
Provides specialised support and information to all those affected when a child dies or when a child is bereaved.
0800 0288840 www.childbereavementuk.org
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
03444 111 444 www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Families in Grief (FIG)
Help bereaved children, young people and their families 01237 479027 www.familiesingrief.org
Pete’s Dragons
Help people living through the suicide of a loved one. 01395 277780 www.petesdragons.org.uk
Good Grief Trust
Practical and emotional support for anyone who has been bereaved.
www.thegoodgrieftrust.org
Carers UK
Advice and support for carers, including in bereavement.
0808 808 7777
The Compassionate Friends
www.carersuk.org
Support and care for bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age.
0345 123 2304
www.tcf.org.uk
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)
Peer-led support to people impacted by suicide loss. Available 9am - 9pm, Monday to Sunday.
0300 111 5065
Brake
www.uksobs.com
Supporting families and friends who are bereaved due to a road accident.
0808 800 0401 www.brake.org.uk
Reference: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Bereavement Book Review Date: April 2027
Publication Date: April 2025
PALS
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) ensures that the NHS listens to patients, relatives, carers and friends, answers questions and resolves concerns as quickly as possible. If you have a query or concern, please visit them in the Information Centre on level two at North Devon District Hospital or contact them on 01271 314090 or rduh.palsnorthern@nhs.net.
Have your say
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (RDUH) aims to provide high quality services. However, please tell us when something could be improved. If you have a comment or compliment about our service, please let us know.
If you would like to make a formal complaint, please contact the Customer Relations Manager on 01271 322334. Compliments or concerns can also be sent to the Chief Executive, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB
Disclaimer: Whilst the Trust is grateful of the support of companies advertising, we stress that any inclusion of any advertisement in this booklet does not imply approval or recommendation of the advertisers by the Trust, nor does the Trust necessarily support the product advertised.
