Guidance following a bereavement
Guidance following a
bereavement
every day 1
matters
StBarnabasHospice.co.uk
Guidance following a bereavement
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Guidance following a bereavement
StBarnabasHospice.co.uk
This booklet provides information and guidance for relatives and carers following a bereavement. We hope that the contents are of help to you. We know this can be a distressing and maybe a difficult time. The nursing and medical team can guide you through what to do next and answer any questions you may have.
Contents If your loved one died in the Hospice................................................................................ 4 If the death happened at home.............................................................................................5 Death certificate and medical examiner........................................................................... 6 The Coroner..................................................................................................................................7 Registering the death............................................................................................................... 9 Funeral arrangements............................................................................................................ 10 Bereavement support..............................................................................................................11 Sorting social media................................................................................................................11 Local funeral directors listing........................................................................................ 12-13 Notes............................................................................................................................................ 14 3
Guidance following a bereavement
If your loved one died in the Hospice When someone dies in the hospice, staff will guide you through what to do immediately after the death. You will not need to leave immediately and you will be supported to spend time with your loved one if you wish. The team will confirm with you whether you are planning a burial or cremation and ensure the relevant paperwork is completed. Faith leaders representing various beliefs and denominations can be made available to you if required. Once staff have completed the care for your loved one, your chosen Funeral Director will be able to take them into their care. 4
If the patient had not stated a preference and you are unsure which Funeral Director to use information can be found from the following websites: The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors www.saif.org.uk 0345 230 6777 The National Association of Funeral Directors www.nafd.org.uk 0121 711 1343 or from the list enclosed within this booklet. Personal belongings can be taken home immediately or can be collected, by appointment, at a later date.
Guidance following a bereavement
If the death happened at home When someone dies at home, you will need to call the Palliative Single Point of Access (Pspa) on 0300 123 4868, option 9. They will then arrange for a health care professional to visit and complete verification of expected death.
StBarnabasHospice.co.uk
You may also need to contact the community nursing team to arrange collection of any equipment. You will need to return any unused medication to the pharmacy. Once the doctor has visited you should contact your chosen Funeral Director. They will collect the person who has died and take them to their premises.
Once verification of death has been completed, you will then be able to contact your chosen funeral directors who will arrange to come and collect the person who has died. The healthcare professional who completed the verification of death will inform the GP surgery, who will then be able to complete the medical certificate of cause of death.
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Guidance following a bereavement
Death certificate and medical examiner Before a death can be registered a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death must be completed by a doctor. This will be done following review by the Medical Examiner who will have received prior notification of the death. The Medical Examiner is a senior doctor who was not involved in the care of the patient. The Medical Examiner provides an independent review of the cause of death and whether a Coroner referral is needed.
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The cause of death will be written on the death certificate. The Medical Examiner and their staff can explain what the medical language means. They will ask you whether you have any questions or concerns about the cause of death or about the care the person received before their death. This will usually be through a telephone call. If there are issues with the care that need further investigation the Medical Examiner will refer these to someone who can do this.
Guidance following a bereavement
StBarnabasHospice.co.uk
The Coroner In certain cases a doctor may be required to report the death to a coroner. For patients who die at St Barnabas Hospice that may be for one of a few possible reasons: • • • • • •
The patient died within 24 hours of admission The patient had surgery in the last year The patient had a fall during their admission The cause of death is unknown The death was sudden and unexplained An industrial disease may have contributed to their death
The Coroner may decide that the cause of death is clear, in which case: 1. The doctor signs a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. 2. The Coroner issues a certificate to the registrar stating a post-mortem is not needed, (unless the patient has Mesothelioma in which case the coroner writes and issues the death certificate and organises the cremation forms if required, they will liaise directly with the family).
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Guidance following a bereavement
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Guidance following a bereavement
Registering the death When a family member or friend dies, their death needs to be registered. To do this, you will need a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. The Medical Examiner will have liaised with the doctor to confirm the details. They can then complete and issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. Previously you would have taken this to the Registrars’ office. However, at present this is sent on your behalf. The Registrars’ office will contact you generally within seven working days by telephone and when all details have been confirmed, they will issue you with a death certificate. This will enable you to proceed with funeral arrangements. The Registrars’ office will also explain how to use the “Tell Us Once” service. They will either complete the information with you or give you a reference number so you can use the online service yourself. This service informs the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and other Central and Local Government Departments of the death. This makes it easier and less stressful.
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For more information call Lincolnshire County Council on 01522 782244 or the DWP on 0800 151 2012. This information needs to be completed within 28 days. There is no cost for registering a death. The only cost will be for extra copies of the death certificate as these may be needed by other organisations such as banks and for insurance purposes.
Scan below to register a death
Guidance following a bereavement
Funeral arrangements Once a Funeral Director has been chosen they will help make arrangements for the funeral in response to the family wishes. Some families choose to arrange the funeral themselves, however, please note there are strict guidelines which must be followed. You can start making the funeral arrangements as soon as you feel able to do so. A Funeral Director will: • Help you make all necessary arrangements and liaise between the various organisations, such as the cemetery/crematorium. • Ensure all the correct paperwork is issued so that the funeral can be held.
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• Discuss the funeral service with you. They will discuss your options and choices and associated costs. • Help you appoint a faith-leader or non-religious celebrant to lead the service. If you are concerned about the financial cost involved for a funeral, you can discuss this with your funeral director or contact the St Barnabas welfare team on 01476 513 544. Help and advice can also be found on the Lincolnshire County Council website, www.lincolnshire.gov.uk or from the Bereavement Support Network www.bereavementsupport.co.uk Telephone 0333 240 0360
Guidance following a bereavement
Bereavement support
Sorting social media
St Barnabas have a bereavement helpline and counselling support service. They will support with any bereavement, not just the families and friends of those cared for by the hospice.
Dealing with your loved one’s social media account once they have died may not be your main priority at the moment. However, scrolling through their photos and memories may help you grieve. On the other hand you may be worried that people who are not aware of the situation may try to contact the person or still receive birthday notifications.
The helpline is available Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm, telephone 0300 303 1897. They also offer one to one counselling and bereavement support. For further details and support, contact by telephone on 01522 518 246 or email counselling. services@stbarnabashospice.co.uk
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Over time you may want to make a decision about what to do with your loved one’s social media profiles and other online accounts. Information on how to memorialise or delete social media accounts can be found online at: https://www.hospiceuk.org/ information-and-support/i-needsupport-bereavement/what-dodigital-accounts
Guidance following a bereavement
Local
funeral directors Armstrong and Sons Funeral Directors Louth.................................01507 655 796 Carr Funeral Service Boston..............................01205 311 300 Cliff Bradley and Sons Funeral Directors Gainsborough...............01427 810 619 Lincoln..............................01522 708 888 Colin Ward & Sons Sleaford............................01529 300 123 Co-operative Funeralcare Grantham........................01476 570 023 Louth (inc. Kettles).......01507 600 710 David Holland Funeral Directors Grantham........................01476 849 591 FE Addlesee & Son Boston..............................01205 311 303 FE Walton & Sons Spalding...........................01406 363 264 Frank Wood Funeralcare Skegness..........................01754 763119 12
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J Marshall Funeral Directors Lincoln..............................01673 843 725 Wragby.............................01673 843 725 J Willson Spalding...........................01775 722 915 JE Severs Funeral Services Sleaford............................01529 460 339 Jonathan Whiting Funeral Directors Lincoln..............................01522 589 942 Lamberts Funeral Services Market Rasen................. 01673 857 515 Lincolnshire Co-op Alford................................01507 463 444 Boston..............................01205 362 512 Bracebridge Heath.......01522 529 406 Caistor..............................01472 859 222 Coningsby.......................01526 345 999 Gainsborough...............01427 612 131
Guidance following a bereavement
Lincolnshire Co-op (cont) Horncastle......................01507 523 385 Louth.................................01507 603 519 Mablethorpe..................01507 473 440 Market Rasen.................01673 842 788 Newark.............................01636 703 808 Proctors Road................01522 535 800 Sleaford............................01529 306 311 Spalding...........................01775 723 199 Spilsby..............................01790 752 334 Sutton-on-Sea...............01507 441 271 Tritton Road....................01522 534 971
Price and Son Funeral Directors Grantham........................01476 593 556
Lincoln & County Funeral Directors Lincoln..............................01522 581 617
R Phillips Funeral Directors Ruskington......................01526 832 279
Mark Forth Spalding...........................01775 713 936
Robert Holland Funeral Directors Grantham........................01476 594 422
M Richards Family Funeral Service Skegness..........................01754 766 788
Skegness Funeral Services Skegness..........................01754 761 758
Orchard Funeral Services Waddington....................01522 754 154 Lincoln..............................01522 754 154 Parkers Funeral Directors Chapel St Leonards.....01754 873 035 Spilsby...............................01790 754 700 Wainfleet.........................01754 880 334
R Arnold Family Funeral Service Lincoln..............................01522 542 701 Sutton-on-Sea...............01507 442 300 Alford................................01507 463 200 Mablethorpe..................01507 473 100 Woodhill Spa..................01526 341 707 Louth.................................01507 608 200 R H Turner & Son Horncastle......................01507 522 331
Townsend Moore Funeral Services Grantham........................01476 566 933 Lincoln..............................01522 527 888 Leadenham.....................0800 181 4595 Newark.............................0800 181 4595
Pat Cook & Sons Lincoln..............................01522 522 881 Priestley & Cockett Funeral Directors Lincoln..............................01522 716 972 13
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Guidance following a bereavement
Notes: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
This booklet was written by: The Counselling and Bereavement Support Team at St Barnabas Hospice St Barnabas Hospice Publication date: July 2026 Review date: July 2028 14
The Hospice 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 Hospice is 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
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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.
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This publication has been jointly developed between ourselves and the hospice. 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, Unit 15, Broughton Way, Whitehills, Blackpool FY4 5QN
01253 832400 enquiries@rns.co.uk
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