A
practical guide for when someone dies in hospital
We would like to express our sincere condolences to you at this very difficult time.
This booklet contains details about what needs to be done after the death of your relative or friend. We hope this will help you to manage some of the practical aspects, such as registration and funeral arrangements.
Pages 18 & 19 of this booklet contain a list of other organisations that can provide you with further help and support.
Bereavement Services
As soon as you feel able, please contact Bereavement Services. The team will be able to advise you on the next steps to take and support you with these.
If we have not heard from you within 1-2 working days of your loved one’s death, we will reach out but would prefer you to contact us at a time most convenient for you.
bereavement.services@stgeorges.nhs.uk
0208 725 3410
0208 725 3411
0208 725 0604
The Bereavement Services office is located on the ground floor of Grosvenor Wing (Site Map on Page 24).
If we are unable to take your call please leave a message with your name, contact details and the name of your relative or friend and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Bereavement Services staff are available 09:00 - 16:00 Monday to Friday. If you need to speak to someone on weekends, or Bank Holidays, please contact the relevant ward.
Mortuary and Viewing Arrangements
Your friend or relative will rest with us until your chosen funeral director comes to collect them.
If you wish to view your loved one, you can arrange a viewing at St George’s Hospital by contacting the Mortuary team directly on 0208 725 5240. Please let the team know if you require wheelchair access prior to your appointment.
Viewing Suite appointment times Monday to Friday: 10:00-10:45 13:15-14:00 11:00-11:45 14:15-15:00
Out-of-hours viewing (evenings, weekend and bank holidays) can be arranged through the Site Management team – they can be contacted via switchboard on 0208 672 1255 and bleep 6007.
Sometimes deaths need to be referred to the Coroner. If this is the case, an assigned Coroner’s Officer will be in touch, and you will need authorisation before a viewing can take place.
We value your feedback, please respond to our short survey if you have organised a viewing. You can scan the QR code or use the website below: www.bit.ly/mortuarysurvey
Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is needed to register the death of your relative or friend. This is a handwritten legal document which must be completed by a doctor who was involved in the care of the deceased and is able to offer a cause of death.
Sometimes there may be a wait for the MCCD, for example, if the appropriate doctor is not on duty. You will be kept updated throughout the process. Please know that Bereavement Services will be doing everything they can to help get this completed as soon as possible for you.
Under some circumstances, it is necessary for the doctor to make a referral to the Coroner before the MCCD can be written. This is explained in more detail on page 8. In this situation there may be a delay, but Bereavement Services will be there to support and explain along the way.
You will not need to physically collect the MCCD. A digital version is sent directly to the Register Office, who take all the information on there to create the Death Certificate. The Death Certificate is physically handed to you when the death is registered, this is explained more on Page 11.
Medical Examiner (ME) Service
The Medical Examiner Service became statutory on 9th September 2024. This means it is now a legal requirement for all non-coronial deaths to be independently reviewed by a Medical Examiner (ME) prior to being registered. The MCCD now requires countersignature by a ME to ensure this process is being upheld.
The ME is a senior doctor who was never involved in the care of your loved one. The ME independently reviews the medical records, they also talk to the clinical team that looked after your loved one to better understand the circumstances around the cause of death.
The service will contact you to talk through what is written on the MCCD and answer any questions or concerns you may have. (Please be aware that phone calls from the hospital typically appear as a private number). The MCCD will then be sent electronically to the Register Office. Once this has been sent, you will have 5 days to register the death.
The service will do everything it can to accommodate all faith requirements, including operating an out-of-hours service at the weekends. This is explained more on Page 15.
The bereaved remain at the heart of the ME service and this process should not cause any undue delays.
Referral to the Coroner
In some situations, it is necessary to refer a death to the Coroner; this may be because the clinical team are unsure why the patient died or if the death has any unnatural elements.
The Coroner’s Office will consider all the information provided by the referring doctor and there are multiple possible outcomes:
• No further investigation is required. The Coroner’s Office will issue a CN1A Form which allows the clinical team and Medical Examiner Service to proceed with the MCCD.
• Further investigation is required. This may be in the form of a Post-Mortem, an Inquest or both. In these cases, the Coroner’s Office will take full responsibility for all processes going forwards.
Please be aware that the Coroner’s Office is an independent organisation, entirely separate from the hospital. Their procedures are outside of our control, and we are unable to influence their timelines or outcomes. You can contact them via: innerwestlondoncoronerscourt@westminster.gov.uk
Coroner’s Post-Mortem
The Coroner may decide a post-mortem is needed to find out the cause of death. Consent is not required from the next of kin for this examination.
The Coroner will release the body for a funeral once they have completed the post-mortem examination and no further examinations are needed.
You will need to inform your funeral director of the Coroner’s Office involvement so that they can request the completion of all relevant paperwork required for the release of the body and the funeral.
Coroner’s Inquest
If the Coroner decides to hold an Inquest the death cannot be registered until after this investigation has been completed. However, the Coroner can issue an interim certificate to allow a funeral to take place. You can also use this to let organisations know that your loved one is now deceased.
You will need to inform your funeral director of the Coroner’s Office involvement so that they can request the completion of all relevant paperwork required for the release of the body and the funeral.
Hospital Post-Mortem
There are occasions when the clinical team involved in the care of the patient may ask for your consent to carry out a hospital Post-Mortem.
This cannot proceed without consent from the next of kin. You will be given every opportunity to discuss the circumstances with a clinician before making your decision or signing the necessary forms.
A report of the Hospital Post-Mortem will be available within 4-6 weeks. A meeting or phone call can be arranged if you wish to discuss the findings.
This process will not delay registration as a cause of death must have already been agreed and a MCCD issued before this takes place. These types of Post-Mortems are only requested when further detail may be useful to a family or other patients in some way. For instance, clarity on an unknown form of cancer or genetic testing for potentially inheritable diseases.
Registering a Death
You must register the death in person at a Register Office. Deaths need to be registered in the borough in which they occurred, for St George’s Hospital this will be Wandsworth.
Wandsworth Register Office
Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London SW18 2PU
0208 871 6120
The Medical Examiner service will send all the necessary paperwork to Wandsworth Register Office. Once they have received the documents, they will send you a text message to confirm receipt. You can then call the number above or visit their website to book an appointment:
www.wandsworth.gov.uk/registration-services/deaths
Appointments are available Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 16:30.
If you are not locally based, you can register the death via a process called ‘Registration via Declaration’. The required documents must still be sent to Wandsworth first. They will then forward the documents to your chosen Register Office. Please be aware that this process takes longer than a standard registration, so you should factor this into your plans.
You can purchase multiple copies of the Death Certificate. The fee is £12.50 per certificate (as of 2025). The registrar can advise you on how many you may need. You can also order additional copies online at any time after the registration.
Green Form
The registrar will provide the Certificate for Burial or Cremation (more commonly known as the ‘Green Form’) which your funeral director must have to collect your loved one from the hospital’s mortuary. If you have a funeral director chosen, the registrar can email this form directly to them at the end of your appointment.
‘Tell Us Once’ Service
This is a free service that can help you notify multiple government organisations about the death at the same time.
The registrar will ask you if you want to use this service during your appointment and will give you a unique service number.
It connects the Register Office with the Department for Work and Pensions, which then alerts relevant government departments such as:
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• Passport Office
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
Additional information is available via:
Arranging a Funeral
Planning a funeral is a personal and important part of saying goodbye. It is essential to choose a funeral director you feel comfortable with. While Bereavement Services cannot recommend a specific funeral director, this pack contains details for several local services.
You can make provisional enquiries and plans with a funeral director before the death is registered. It is best not to finalise any funeral arrangements until the death has been registered as the funeral cannot take place until this has been completed. If you wish to transport your loved one for burial or cremation in another country, this is known as Repatriation. This process requires extra paperwork:
• ‘Free From Infection’ (FFI) Declaration: This is a document from a doctor confirming it is safe to proceed with the repatriation. St. George’s Hospital will organise and provide this form to your funeral director.
• ‘Out of England’ form: You will need permission from the Coroner to transport your loved one outside of England & Wales (this includes to Scotland). This can take up to three working days to receive, so please account for this in your planning.
Authority from the Coroner is not needed to transport cremated ashes. If you plan to transport ashes by air, please contact your chosen airline directly to confirm their specific requirements.
Financial Assistance
If you are receiving certain allowances or benefits, you may be eligible for help with funeral expenses through the Funeral Expenses Payment. To find out more and apply, visit: www.gov.uk/funeral-payments or call 0800 731 0469
If you, or any interested person, is unable to cover the costs of a funeral the local authority may be able to assist with a Public Health Funeral. In this case, the local council will arrange and pay for a basic funeral.
If Wandsworth Council arranges the funeral, family and friends are welcome to attend the service, but the location and time will be determined solely by the council. Cremated remains are typically interred in an unmarked, but recorded, location in a Garden of Remembrance.
For more information about Public Health Funerals, please call: 0208 871 8608
Down to Earth is a charitable organisation that offers advice and assistance for those having difficulty arranging or paying for a funeral. For further information, please email downtoearth@qsa.org.uk or call 0208 983 5055
Rapid Release for Religious Reasons
We understand that some faiths require funerals to take place as soon as possible. We will do everything we can to support this.
Please inform the ward staff as soon as possible if this is needed. If the death must be referred to the Coroner, we will not be able to provide a rapid release.
Weekdays (Monday–Friday) between 09:00 and 15:30, Bereavement Services and the Mortuary team will support the release. Outside these times, the Site Management Team will facilitate this.
Weekends and Bank Holidays (excluding Christmas Day), the Medical Examiner Service is available from 08:00 to 11:00 to prepare the MCCD and send it to Wandsworth Register Office, which has an on-call registrar between 09:00 and 12:00. The oncall registrar can be reached on 0208 771 6000.
Burials Within 24 Hours
If the burial needs to take place within 24 hours, once Wandsworth Register Office has received the MCCD they are able to issue the Green Form before the formal registration of the death.
This allows your funeral director to collect your loved one from the mortuary so the funeral can take place as soon as possible. Registration of the death can then be completed on a day shortly afterwards.
Complaints Procedure
If you have any compliments, concerns or complaints regarding the care received by a person who has died, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS):
If you wish to make a formal complaint, please outline your concerns in writing and send to:
Email: complaints.compliments@stgeorges.nhs.uk or
Post:
Complaints and Improvements Department, St George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Road, SW17 0QT pals@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Bereavement Survey
We would be grateful if you could share your thoughts about the end-of-life care you and your loved one received at St George’s Hospital. You can complete the survey:
Online using the link or QR code below or
On the paper version in your pack (with freepost envelope provided).
Your feedback will be treated with care. We will share the results with the wards and teams you mention, so they can learn from your experiences and continue to improve care for other families.
www.gthr.co.uk/4e43
Helpful Groups & Organisations
Coping with the death of a loved one is an incredibly difficult and personal journey. The grief that follows can be overwhelming, bringing with it a range of intense emotional and physical reactions. It’s not uncommon to feel confused, frightened, or even angered by feelings that seem unfamiliar or out of character.
Sharing your feelings can be a helpful step in grieving. If you need additional support, consider speaking with your GP. They can provide advice and, if appropriate, refer you to a counsellor or a specified support service.
GOV.UK
www.gov.uk/when-someone-dies
A step-by-step government guide
Samaritans www.samaritans.org
24hr helpline: 116 123
Support for anyone in emotional distress or struggling to cope
Cruse Bereavement Care
www.cruse.org.uk
0808 808 1677
Bereavement counselling services for all
Macmillan Cancer Support
www.macmillan.org.uk
0808 808 0000
Office located on the ground floor of St George’s Hospital (Next to Bereavement Services on Site Map)
Helpful Groups & Organisations (continued)
Wandsworth Bereavement Services
www.wandsworthbereavement.org.uk
0207 223 3178
Counselling for residents of the Borough of Wandsworth
Age UK
www.ageuk.org.uk
0800 678 1602
Information, advice and support for older people
Brake www.brake.org.uk
0808 800 0401
Supporting people bereaved by road incidents
Switchboard
www.switchboard.lgbt
0800 0119 100
The national LGBTQIA+ support line
Coroner’s Court Support Service (CCSS)
www.coronerscourtssupportservice.org.uk
0300 111 2141 or info@ccsupport.org.uk
Support for those attending an Inquest at a Coroner’s Court
The Compassionate Friends
www.tcf.org.uk
0345 123 2304 or helpline@tcf.org.uk
Supporting bereaved parents and their families
Annual Memorial Service: Time To Remember
St George’s, Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group invites you to our annual memorial service to remember patients, staff and loved ones.
Services will be held at St George’s and St Helier – both are always 15:00 - 16:00 on the third Sunday in November.
The service will be followed by tea and cake.
Hyde Park Room, 1st Floor Lanesborough Wing St Georges Hospital SW17 0QT
For more information, please contact: chaplains@stgeorges.nhs.uk 0208 725 3071
Chapel & Multi Faith Room, Ground Floor St Helier Hospital SM5 1AA
For more information, please contact: esth.chaplains@nhs.net 0208 296 2917
Everyone is welcome.
St George’s Hospital Charity
Donating a gift in memory to St George’s Hospital Charity is a valuable and positive way to remember a loved one. Funds can be designated to support a ward, department or area of the hospital’s work that has a special significance to you and will be a lasting tribute.
St George’s Hospital Charity exists to:
• Enhance the physical environment of the hospital for patients, staff and visitors
• Fund clinical research
• Help to fund state-of-the-art equipment
• Support St George’s staff through training and development
To find out more:
Visit the Fundraising Office in Grosvenor Wing (ground floor)
Call on 0208 725 4522
Email to giving@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Website at www.stgeorgeshospitalcharity.org.uk
Tissue Donation: A Lasting Gift
Each year, thousands of lives in the UK are saved or improved thanks to the generosity of tissue donors and their families.
Tissue donation is a voluntary process. It is possible to donate heart valves, tendons, skin, bone and corneas. The donation can take place up to 48 hours after death, in a hospital, nursing home, or funeral home.
Most people can be considered for tissue donation. If suitable, a Specialist Nurse will contact you to discuss the process, review the medical history, and talk about any cultural or religious wishes. Please be assured that the donor is always treated with dignity, a natural appearance is maintained, and your funeral plans will not be affected. Family and friends can visit after the donation.
We know that thinking about tissue donation can be difficult. If you would like more information to help you with this decision please visit our website at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk
To refer someone who has died within the last 48 hours, please call the National Referral Centre on 0800 432 0559
Transport Information
Car:
There are drop off/collection points outside most wings. There is a car park with the entrance on Blackshaw Road. Charges must be paid on exit. Please check our website for up-to-date cost information www.stgeorges.nhs.uk
Blue badge holders may park free in:
• Reserved disabled spaces near the entrances of most wings
• White-painted bays on the hospital perimeter road
• The car park – badge holder must take their ticket and blue badge to Security (Grosvenor Wing) before they exit
Bus:
Low-floor, wheelchair accessible buses run on all routes.
• Bus routes 493 and G1 enter the hospital grounds
• Routes 44, 270 and N44 stop on Garratt Lane
• Routes 57, 131, 219 and N155 stop on Tooting High Street
• Routes 155, 264 and 280 stop on Blackshaw Road
Tube:
Tooting Broadway Underground station (on the Northern Line) is approx. 10 minutes’ walk from the main pedestrian entrance on Effort Street.
St George’s Site Map
Reference: St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bereavement Book
Review Date: September 2027
Publication Date: September 2025
The Hospital would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from services o ering 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.
