North Tees and Hartlepool Bereavement Booklet

NHS

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Practical Help and Advice After a Death What do we do next?

Information for relatives, carers and friends

This booklet can be made available in other formats including large print, CD and Braille and in languages other than English, upon request.

The staff at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust would like to offer you, your family and friends our deepest condolences at this difficult time.

We understand that when someone close to you dies, you may feel a range of emotions or in some cases, none at all. Let us reassure you that any feelings you do or don’t have are a normal part of grieving and everyone goes through grief differently.

Grief is discussed further in this booklet and a list of places to seek help if needed are available.

There are many practical and legal processes that need to be taken care of before a funeral can take place. This booklet will help guide you through them. Should you need any assistance or have any questions then please don’t hesitate to contact the Bereavement Team.

Contents What happens when someone dies?

1-3

How do I arrange a visit at The Woodlands Suite

4-5

Tissue Donation, what do I need to do?

6

When can I collect any property and valuables?

7

Will a post mortem need to be held?

8-9

How do I register the death?

10

Who can register the death?

10

What information do I need for my Registrar Appointment?

11-15

What other services are there that can offer support?

16-17

What If There’s a Will?

18

What types of Funeral Are Available?

19

How Do I Arrange a Funeral?

20-21

Can I Get Help With Funeral Costs?

22

When Can The Funeral Take Place?

23

Stopping Junk Mail to the recently deceased

24

Who Do I Need to Inform?

25

What if I find it Difficult to Cope with My Grief?

26-27

Further Support

28-29

Notes

30

Complaints

32

Contacts

33

What happens when someone dies?

The legal process for obtaining the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and registering the death has changed. Once complete, the Medical Certificate is sent electronically to the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths, along with the Next of Kin contact details. The Registrar will then contact the Next of Kin and arrange an appointment to visit their office to register the death.

Before the completion of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, the Medical Examiner will scrutinise or review the care and treatment your loved one received. They will speak with a doctor who provided that care. This may be the patient’s own GP. They will also call you or a designated family contact, giving you the family, the opportunity to ask questions and understand the cause of death.

When your loved one dies outside of the hospital, where the district nursing team or GP has verified the death, they should inform the deceased’s GP that they have died. If you are not sure this has happened, then it could be useful for you or a family member to inform your loved one’s GP they have passed away.

The Medical Examiner The Medical Examiner is an independent senior doctor working in the hospital who is trained in the legal and clinical elements of the death certification process. Part of their role is to ensure the information contained on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is correct and that referrals to the Coroner are done in a timely and appropriate manner to avoid any delays.

1

Although the Medical Examiner may not be able to answer all your questions immediately, the Medical Examiner will advise you regarding sources of additional support or information.

Hospital Bereavement Support Officer When someone dies in hospital the Hospital Bereavement Support Officer is there to help you with many of the practical issues. This includes talking you through the process of having a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) issued and registering the death.

The Bereavement Support Office is open between 8.00am and 4.00pm Monday – Friday excluding bank holidays. The Bereavement Support Officer will contact you as soon as they have been notified of your loved one’s death. They will talk you through the process, help you make all your necessary arrangements and answer any questions you may have at that time. Medical Certificate of Cause of Death can take a number of days to complete. This will be explained in more depth when the Bereavement Support Officer contacts you.

It is understandable that you may be feeling worried at this time so you are more than welcome to contact the Bereavement Support Officer directly for information and help.

They can be contacted on the following number: 01642 624327 / 01642 383286 Messages can be left on the answering machine.

Please state: • • •

Your name, Contact telephone number, The name of your loved one.

A member of the team will return your call as soon as they become available.

2

You do not need to wait for the completion of any paperwork before contacting a Funeral Director. Once you have chosen a Funeral Director, give them a call to arrange an appointment to meet with them to discuss your requirements.

It should be noted though that the cremation or burial of your loved one cannot take place until the death has been registered after completion of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.

It is important to allow enough time for the certificate to be agreed, completed and sent to the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths.

Chaplaincy Team The Chaplains are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can offer advice, comfort and support to bereaved relatives, carers and friends.

They can be contacted on the following numbers: University Hospital of North Tees, tel: 01642 383138 University Hospital of Hartlepool, tel: 01429 522776 Messages can be left on the answering machine and a member of the team will return your call as soon as they become available.

Chaplaincy do check these numbers regularly, but if an urgent chaplaincy response is required, please contact switchboard and ask for the on-call Chaplain.

3

How do I arrange a visit at The Woodlands Suite?

Immediate family may wish to see the person who has died whilst they remain in the care of the hospital, others may prefer to wait until they are in the care of the Funeral Director. Some people may wish to remember the person as they were. It is a personal choice.

Whilst some people may have been present at or immediately after the person has died, other immediate family may wish to visit too. Deceased people should be moved to the mortuary within 4 hours of death in order to keep them cool and preserve their appearance. The mortuary has a family room known as The Woodlands Suite, where the deceased can be moved to should family members wish to visit them.

If you do wish to visit at the Woodlands Suite, an appointment must have been made prior to your arrival to ensure the room is available. The patient’s Next of Kin or documented named contact, will need to speak with the Bereavement Support Officer or they can contact the mortuary directly to book an appointment.

Please tell us, when you make your appointment, of any special arrangement that you wish to make. Should you require someone from the Chaplaincy Team to accompany you to visit your loved one, then please let the mortuary or bereavement team aware.

4

You can arrange an appointment to visit by contacting the following numbers: University Hospital of North Tees Mortuary & Bereavement Tel: 01642 624347 / 01642 383286 Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.00pm University Hospital of Hartlepool Mortuary Tel: 01429 522338 Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.00pm Outside of these hours: (Evenings, weekends and bank holidays) Tel: 01642 617617 For emergency appointments Tell the switchboard operator you would like to arrange a visit. They will contact a member of the team to make an appointment with you.

Please note: in some circumstances the appointment will need to be arranged for the following day.

At the time of your appointment you will be met by a member of staff; if you wish, a Hospital Chaplain or any other faith leader can go with you. The Woodlands Suite is a calm and quiet area where you can spend some time with the person who has died, fully supported by our staff.

5

Tissue Donation, what do I need to do?

If your loved one had never expressed any objection to organ or tissue donation and you believe this is something they may have liked to have considered please contact: Tissue Services on 03000 20 30 40.

Your details will be taken and a Tissue Co-ordinator will contact you.

As many as 50 people can be helped to improve their lives from a single person donating their tissue.

Tissue Donation will not delay the funeral as it must take place within 24 hours of death.

6

When can I collect any property and valuables?

Where your loved one has died in the hospital or has been taken to the hospital mortuary, any property and valuables with your loved one will be held by the hospital, and may be collected directly from the ward or from your chosen Funeral Director once they have collected your loved one from the care of the mortuary.

If the death occurred in or on the way to Accident and Emergency Department, the police may have taken any valuables and other property. Similarly, if the death occurs outside the hospital and the police have been informed, the police may have taken any property or valuables for safe keeping. If you believe this has happened, you can call the police non-emergency number, 101, and ask for the property or valuables to be returned.

Jewellery and personal effects still worn by your loved one will remain on them and will be receipted when your loved one is collected by your chosen Funeral Director. You can then arrange to collect the jewellery and effects from the Funeral Director.

7

Will a post mortem need to be held?

Coroners are independent judicial officers and are required by law to establish a medical cause of death. They work closely with Medical Examiners Teams but their investigations may take time to complete beyond the routine preparation of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.

Approximately one-third of all deaths in England and Wales are referred to the Coroner. This does not automatically mean there is a need for a post mortem but should a post mortem examination be required, this cannot be refused.

The Medical Examiner may refer to the Coroner if: • • • • • •

No cause of death can be established.

The cause of death is not thought to be a natural cause.

The death follows an operation or could be due to complications of surgery or anaesthetics.

The death is due to injury from a fall or accident.

It is alleged the death was caused by negligence.

If the death was due to industrial illness or disease.

If the Coroner decides the death was natural and they can identify a medical cause of death, they will allow a doctor to issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. If not, the Coroner may instruct a Pathologist to conduct a post mortem examination.

A member of Coroner’s staff should contact you before the post mortem, where possible. For further information contact the Coroner’s Office.

Teesside Coroner’s Office telephone: 01642 729350 Only the Coroner’s Office will be able to discuss the findings of a Coroner’s post mortem examination.

8

Hospital Post Mortem Occasionally hospital staff may request a post mortem examination. This would be discussed with the family by the medical staff concerned and the family’s consent would be required.

Please ask to see our information leaflet ‘A Simple Guide to Post Mortem Examination’ – PIL1343 which a member of staff will be able to give you.

Family members may request a post mortem to be carried out and they should discuss their wishes with the clinical team treating their relative as soon as possible. In most instances, families’ concerns and questions are answered without the need for a post mortem, once the death has been scrutinised by the Medical Examiner and the death discussed with the family.

The results of a hospital post mortem can be discussed with the family by the Consultant.

A hospital post mortem would not change the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death or the cause of death agreed by the Medical Examiner. The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death must have been issued first and the death registered.

9

How do I register the death?

Deaths are registered in person at the Registry Office in the district where the person died. The death must be registered within 5 days of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death being completed.

If a death has been referred to the Coroner or a post mortem has been ordered, the death cannot be registered until written clearance has been given to the Medical Examiner allowing for the preparation of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death or given to the Registrar, allowing them to proceed with a legal certificate.

If an inquest is to be held, with or without a post mortem, an interim certificate may be issued to enable the funeral to take place.

Who Can Register?

A death can only be registered by: • • • • •

A relative of the deceased person, usually the Next of Kin The partner of the deceased person Someone who was present at the death The bereavement Support Officer representing the hospital The person arranging the funeral

10

What information do I need when I meet the Registrar?

Date of Death • This will be on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death Place of Death • This could be the name of the hospital, nursing home, the house number, street name, village, town etc.

• If the death took place in an ambulance, car or outside, then you need to provide the locality and the intended destination when the death occurred.

Full Name • This could be the name they were known as at the time of death.

• You should also establish if they were or are known by any other name in the past or present.

• Previous names including any changes by marriage or civil partnership.

The Gender, Ethnicity and Date of Birth of the deceased.

Was the deceased pregnant?

Place of Birth • Town and county • If born outside of the UK - country only Marital status at time of death • If married, full name and occupation of spouse

11

Occupation • Provide as much information as possible relating to the most recent occupation.

• Please also inform the registrar if the person was retired.

Usual Address • This should include the name or number of the house, street name and the village or town.

If available, please provide: NHS Number • The number will be on their medical card or on the top of a prescription.

• Don’t worry if you can’t find this, it is not essential to the registration.

National Insurance Number • This can be found on a bank statement, benefit payment or national insurance card.

• Again, this is not essential so don’t worry if you can’t find it.

The registration process can take 30 to 45 minutes. The Registrar will issue you with the certified death certificates which will cost the statutory fee of £12.50 each.

Banks, building societies, insurance companies, private pensions and mortgage companies will usually want to see a certified death certificate, have a think how many you may need and inform the registrar when they call to arrange to meet you.

12

Don’t worry if you don’t get enough at the time of registration, you can always apply for more at a later date.

The Certificate for Burial or Cremation, also known as ‘The Green Form’ will be given to you. You need to take this to your chosen Funeral Director so they can process the funeral paperwork. The registrar can also email it to the Funeral Director and relevant crematorium or cemetery if you would like them to.

Many Funeral Directors will not take your loved one into their care without receiving the Green Form.

13

University Hospital of North Tees: If the person died at North Tees Hospital, your appointment would be with the Registrars at Stockton. The Bereavement Team will discuss this further when speaking with them.

Stockton Register Office Nightingale House Balaclava Street Stockton on Tees TS18 2AL Tel: 01642 527720

A139 A19

A177

STOCKTON TRAIN STATION

Stockton Register Office Nightingale House, Balaclava Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 2AL

Stockton Register Office Nightingale House, Balaclava Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 2AL

A1305

A66 A1027

Copyright © RNS Publications 2025

14

University Hospital of Hartlepool: If the person died at Hartlepool Hospital your appointment will be with the Registrars at Hartlepool. You will be asked to return to the hospital to collect any property. You will then be directed to the Register Office in Hartlepool, based in the Civic Centre.

Hartlepool Register Office Civic Centre Victoria Road Hartlepool TS24 8AY Tel: 01429 523337

Civic Centre Victoria Road Hartlepool TS24 8AY

Civic Centre Victoria Road Hartlepool TS24 8AY

Copyright © RNS Publications 2025

15

What other services are there that can offer support?

The Stockton Register Service offers an innovative service called Tell Us Once (TUO). The service aims to reduce the number of local and central government departments that you may have to notify after a bereavement.

Tell Us Once is delivered straight after a death registration.

This service is optional but most people who register a death choose Tell Us Once because it will greatly reduce the number of departments you need to notify. It saves time at a stage in your life when you are busy dealing with emotional difficulties that come with bereavement.

What key local and central government departments are involved?

Tell Us Once can notify the following departments after you have registered the death.

Local Authority Departments • Adult Services • Blue Badge • Library Services • Council Housing • Council Tax

• Electoral Services • Council Tax Benefit

Identity and Passport Service, and DVLA: • UK Passport • Driving Licence Department for Work and Pensions: • Bereavement Benefit • State Pensions • Attendance Allowance • Pension Credit • Carers Allowance • Disability Living Allowance • Income Support • Incapacity Benefit • War Pension Scheme • Jobseeker’s Allowance • Overseas Health • Employment and Support Allowance 16

HMRC: • Working Tax Credit • Child Benefit

• Child Tax Credit • Personal Taxation

Tell Us Once will pass details to these departments on your behalf. The departments you have chosen to notify will contact you directly if they need any more information to process the change in circumstances.

Can I use the service?

If you would like to use this service, you will need the following: • The deceased’s National Insurance Number • Details of any benefits/services they were receiving • Their driving licence or driving licence number • Their passport or passport number • Their Blue Badge, if they had one If you are not the Next of Kin (or Spouse/Partner), you must have permission from them before you give any information to the Tell Us Once service.

Who receives the notifications?

Customers have the choice of who they notify and this will dictate which services receive notification.

Some customers, following a bereavement and before the registration of a death, contact the DWP and believe that they have completed the full Tell Us Once process. This is not the case, because the DWP will only deal with matters relating to central government.

The central and local government departments referred to above can only be dealt with during the Tell Us Once process, following registration of death, which then enables those details to be forwarded to the relevant services.

17

What if there is a Will?

If there is a Will you should check to see if it contains any final wishes about the funeral. The Will also gives the names of the executors or the person legally entitled to deal with the estate of the person who has died.

If you need assistance, a solicitor can help you with the administration of the estate (property, possessions and personal matters), and any questions which may arise about taxation.

There will be a charge for this service.

18

What types of funeral are available?

One of the decisions you will have to make is to choose between cremation and burial.

Burial Most cemeteries are owned either by local authorities or private companies. Many churchyards are no longer open for burials because there is no space left. A charge will be made for a burial plot and this will vary. If a space has been pre-paid for in a cemetery, you will need to produce the relevant Deed of Grant.

Cremation No one can be cremated until the cause of death is definitely known. There are certain forms which you must sign. The Funeral Director will explain these to you.

Local authorities set the costs charged by the crematorium. The ashes will be offered to you. Some people like to scatter the ashes in a garden of remembrance or a place that holds special memories for them.

They can also be buried in a churchyard or cemetery. You may need to seek the advice of your Funeral Director regarding permission to scatter or bury the ashes in certain areas.

19

How do I arrange the funeral?

Your relative or friend may have expressed their wishes regarding the funeral in their Will, for example, a burial or cremation. If you are planning to use the service of a Funeral Director, you should contact the Funeral Director of your choice as soon as possible, even before you have registered the death.

If your loved one had pre-paid for a funeral with a funeral plan, you must contact the Funeral Director as soon as possible so that they can activate the plan.

Funerals can be expensive. We advise you to check if any financial arrangements have been made, otherwise you may have to bear the cost yourself. As costs can vary between Funeral Directors it may be worth getting more than one estimate before making a decision.

Almost all Funeral Directors are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF). We would recommend you use a Funeral Director who belongs to such an organisation as they have Codes of Practice and set out rules and regulations.

• National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) Tel: 0121 711 1343 www.nafd.org.uk • National Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) Tel: 0345 230 6777 www.saif.org.uk

20

Once you have made your arrangements with your chosen Funeral Director and you have been informed by the Bereavement Support Officer that your loved one can leave our care, please ask your Funeral Director to arrange the transfer with the Mortuary as soon as possible.

If the transfer of care of your loved one has not been arranged by your Funeral Director within a couple of days, we will contact you to ensure you are not having any difficulties with your arrangements.

21

Can I get help with funeral costs?

Help for Adult Funeral Costs You may qualify for a funeral payment from the government (Funeral Expenses Payment) to help meet the cost of the funeral if you are receiving certain types of benefits.

You can find out if you are eligible to make a claim by calling the Department for Work and Pensions on: 0800 151 2012.

If you are eligible, they will process your claim and explain how you can find out if you have been successful. This can take up to 3 to 4 weeks.

Help with Child Funeral Costs The government also offer support for child funeral costs (Children’s Funeral Fund for England), for children under 18 years old or a baby stillborn after the 24th week. You do not need to claim yourself as the Funeral Director and cremation or burial authority will make the claim on your behalf.

The Children’s Funeral fund can help pay for the burial fees, cremation fees, coffin, shroud or casket. You can choose more but this may incur additional costs. A Funeral Director will be able to advise you.

For babies less than 24 weeks gestation, many Funeral Directors will provide their basic services for free or with a nominal fee.

You can search online for Funeral Directors who conduct baby funerals and their services and costs are usually on their website.

If you are worried about money or funeral arrangements, please do not hesitate to speak to the Bereavement Support Officer who can offer advice based on your circumstances.

22

When can the funeral take place?

Your Funeral Director will advise you when the funeral can be held once they have checked with the cemetery or crematorium.

Funeral Directors will make all the necessary arrangements. If needed, they can arrange for the body of the person who has died to be taken to another part of the country, or even to another country.

If you are making your own arrangements, please speak to the Bereavement Support Officer for advice regarding your responsibilities.

You may want to seek help or advice from your minister, priest or religious leader regarding the service.

23

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 0333 006 8114.

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 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.

24

Who do I need to inform of the death?

There are various people who need to be informed of the death.

It may be useful to use a checklist to help you.

People or organisations marked with * will be automatically informed if you used the Tell Us Once Service.

People to inform

Contacted Completed

DWP - 0800 731 7898* Employer / Place of Work Inland Revenue (HMRC)* Banks / Building Societies / Credit Card Companies Council Tax Office* Insurance Companies (Life, Car, Property etc.)

Mortgage Companies Housing Association / Landlord Social Services - including home help* Utility Providers - Gas, Water, Electricity etc.

School / College / University (if applicable) National Savings & Investments DVLA* Telephone Company Inc. Mobile and Internet HM Passport Office* Library Service* Executors and Beneficiaries of a Will 25

What if I find it difficult to cope with my grief?

When someone close to you dies you will have to come to terms emotionally with the death, as well as having to deal with the practical issues. This will not be easy, and will certainly take time. You may have mood changes, times when you want to be alone and times when you need company.

As individuals, our culture and spiritual beliefs mean we react to death in different ways. Some people accept their grief quickly and others take a long time. Some find it easy to talk about the person who has died, sharing the good and the bad times, others find this difficult.

It can be hard to accept the loss. This means you may find yourself trying hard to deny the death has occurred. It is not unusual to think you have heard or seen the deceased person.

Many people feel stressed and physically run down, finding it difficult to eat or sleep.

You may also experience feelings of self-criticism, guilt, panic, self-pity, anger, and irritability - even with the person who has died. This is a natural reaction to bereavement and is not a sign you are “going mad” or letting your family or friends down. Do not be afraid to share these feelings with a sympathetic listener.

You may find yourself feeling hurt, perhaps convinced that some of your family or friends are avoiding you.

Unfortunately, this often happens and is probably due to their embarrassment, as they do not know what to say. You may have to take the first step, so let them know that you would like to talk about your loved one and need their support.

26

The Chaplains are always available to talk to you about your loss or your own Minister of Religion can be contacted if you prefer.

If you find things are becoming too much to cope with we would advise you visit your GP. The Bereavement Support Officer can provide you with a list of various local and national organisations who offer bereavement support both practically and emotionally.

27

Further support Teesside Hospice Teesside Hospice can provide face to face, video and phone counselling for those struggling with grief six months after a death. You can self-refer with your NHS number by using their online form at: www.teessidehospice.org/referral/bereavement-form Or by calling 01642 811063

Cruse Bereavement Care Cruse Bereavement Care are a national charity which have local branches where people can be provided bereavement support.

Call 0808 808 1677

WAY Foundation WAY Foundation is a national charity that supports people who have been widowed before their 51st Birthday. www.widowedandyoung.org.uk/join-way

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide is a self-help organisation which exists to meet the needs of those bereaved by the suicide of anyone close to them.

Call 0300 111 5065 www.uksobs.com 28

Macmillan Cancer Support Macmillan Cancer Support provide information and support for anyone affected by cancer.

Call 0808 808 0000

Samaritans Samaritans are a confidential emotional support service for anyone experiencing feelings of distress or despair for any reason.

Call 116 123 (Freephone) www.samaritans.org

Alice House Hospice Alice House Hospice’s therapeutic Support Service is dedicated to helping people live with loss. Their service is a specialist centre for Bereavement Counselling and Support, it is open to children and young people in the Hartlepool and East Durham area.

Call 01429 855555 email enquiries@alicehousehospice.co.uk

Child Death Helpline Child Death Helpline provides a Freephone helpline for anyone affected by a child’s death, from pre-birth to the death of an adult child, however recently or long ago and whatever the circumstances of the death and uses a translation service to support those for whom English is not a first language.

Volunteers who staff the helpline are all bereaved parents, although supported and trained by professionals.

Call 0800 282 986 www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk 29

Notes

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North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Bereavement Booklet 2025 – Version 2 ......................................................................................................................................................................................

Published October 2025

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Contacts University Hospital of North Tees • Bereavement Support Officers Tel: 01642 383286 / 01642 624327 Email: nth-tr.bereavementservices@nhs.net • Chaplains Tel: 01642 383138 • Mortuary Tel: 01642 624347 Email: nth-tr.MortuaryServices@nhs.net • Medical Examiners’ Office Tel: 01642 383088 / 01642 624103

University Hospital of Hartlepool • Bereavement Support Officers Tel: 01429 522042 • Chaplains Tel: 01429 522776

Teesside Coroners’ Office His Majesty’s Coroner of Teesside The Coroner’s Service Middlesbrough Town Hall Albert Road Middlesbrough TS1 2QJ Tel: 01642 729350 33

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 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 2025

A trading style of Turnside Marketing Ltd

This publication has been jointly developed between ourselves and the hospital. We hope that it has been or will be of help at this time and we welcome any comments or suggestions that you may have.

Please contact us either by phone, email or by post.

RNS Publications, Trium House, Broughton Way, Whitehills, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 5QN

01253 832400 enquiries@rns.co.uk

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.

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