West Suffolk Bereavement Book by bereavementadvice

NHS

West Suffolk

NHS Foundation Trust

What to do after someone has died Practical information for the bereaved

Our deepest sympathy On behalf of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, we would like to express our sympathy and sincere condolences to you on your loss. The time immediately following the death of someone close can be deeply distressing, yet important decisions need to be made. Our Chaplaincy Team and Bereavement Services staff can provide you with the help and care you may need. Following a death there are many arrangements to be made; sometimes these can feel overwhelming and be difficult to process. We have produced this booklet to provide you with practical advice, support and guidance about the steps you may need to take after someone has died. We hope you will find it useful. The Trust’s Bereavement Service can help guide you through the processes outlined in this booklet. If you need help in any way, please do not hesitate to ask. The Trust is committed to providing the very best of care to our patients and their relatives. We always welcome any comments about your experiences of our care. This booklet aims to help you understand some of the emotions you may face during bereavement and provides some contact details of organisations which may be able to help you. Please know that our thoughts are with you.

Contents Page No. Brief guidance in easy steps................................................ 1 At the time of death.............................................................. 2 Property & Valuables............................................................ 3 Medical Examiner................................................................. 4 Review of care - Learning from deaths................................ 5 For deaths in the Rosemary Ward, Community Hospital, Newmarket........................................................................... 7 Emergency department (ED)................................................ 8 The coroner.......................................................................... 9 Coroner’s post-mortem examination.................................... 9 Hospital post-mortem examination....................................... 10 Can I come and pay my last respects?................................ 11 Registration of death............................................................ 12 Tell Us Once......................................................................... 15 Stopping Junk Mail to the recently deceased....................... 17 Suffolk Registration Offices.................................................. 18 Wills, probate and inheritance.............................................. 21 Organ and tissue donation................................................... 21 Arranging the funeral............................................................ 23 Feelings................................................................................ 25 Useful contacts..................................................................... 26 Pastoral, Spiritual Advice and Support................................. 27 Book of Remembrance......................................................... 27 Support organisations.......................................................... 28

Brief guidance in easy steps Step 1: Call Bereavement Support – 01284 713410 The following working day after 9.30am (see page 2: At the time of death) Step 2: Await a return call from the Medical Examiner Office – 01284 713647. (see page 4 for explanation of the role of the Medical Examiner.) Step 3: If the Medical Examiner Office confirms a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been issued, call the Suffolk Registration Office to arrange an appointment to register the death – 0345 607 2060. You do not need to go to the hospital to collect the MCCD, this is emailed to the Register Office by the medical examiner office. (see page 12: Registration of death).

When to start funeral arrangements If you feel ready, and you know details for the funeral, it is acceptable to contact a funeral director any time after the death. You do not have to wait for confirmation of the issue of a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

At the time of death Please telephone the bereavement support officer after 9.30am, the next working weekday after the death. They will take your contact details, confirm next of kin, and explain the next steps. Bereavement support office contact details: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3.30pm Telephone: 01284 713410 Please be aware that this telephone number can be busy, and we apologise if you connect to an answerphone. It is essential that you leave a contact name and number so we can get back to you and be assured we will respond to your message as soon as we can. When a death occurs in the hospital a ‘Medical Certificate of Cause of Death’, or MCCD, can usually be issued by the doctor. You will receive a call from a medical examiner officer to confirm when an MCCD has been issued. If the death is sudden or unexpected, the coroner will have to be notified; this may also delay the issuing of the MCCD (See Page 8). If a doctor can issue a MCCD, a medical examiner officer will call you to confirm this and talk through the causes of death. They will ensure that you understand the causes of death and give you an opportunity to ask further questions. If there are no queries, the medical examiner officer will email a copy of the MCCD directly to the Suffolk Registration Office. The medical examiner officer will give you the unique reference number from the MCCD which you should keep safe; this may be needed when you make an appointment to register the death at the registry offices. Registration appointments must be done in person. 2

Property & Valuables If not collected direct from the ward, property will be kept securely with your loved one in the mortuary. When your loved one is transferred into the care of your chosen funeral director, they will also take any property held. You can then arrange collection directly with the funeral director. However, collection can be arranged through Bereavement Support, if preferred. This is done by appointment only by calling 01284 713410. Evidence of photo identification and a signature will be required.

Medical Examiner The role of medical examiner is a nationwide system which has been developed recently within all Hospital Trusts. A medical examiner is an independent senior consultant/doctor working at the hospital to ensure the information contained on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is accurate and that referrals to the Coroner are performed in a timely and appropriate manner. The medical examiner’s first responsibility is to the deceased and their next of kin, to ensure that the law is applied correctly ensuring referrals to the coroner are right first time, every time, and that there is accuracy in the causes of death. The medical examiner has to be independent and therefore will not have been involved in the care of the deceased. They will examine the care records and judge whether all that should have been done was done, and that there are no circumstances that require further investigation. A medical examiner officer will contact a designated family member to help you understand the cause of death. They will go through the MCCD contents with you and ask if you are comfortable with it and if there is anything else you think they should know before authorising the certificate as accurate. You will also be asked if you have any feedback regarding your loved one’s care during their final illness. You do not need to collect the MCCD from the hospital. If there are no concerns the medical examiner officer will email a copy of the MCCD directly to the Suffolk Registration Office. Your next step is to contact their office to make an appointment See Page 12: Registration of death for more details.

On the rare occasions where it is judged that a more detailed look at the care provided would be beneficial, another independent consultant responsible for Learning from Deaths will also review the case. They will decide whether there should be any specific recommendations to the team in order to improve the quality of care we provide to patients and their families and to identify where we could do more.

Review of care - Learning from deaths To help improve the quality of care we provide to patients, their family and friends, and to identify where we could do more, we review the care of everyone that dies in our hospital. This first review is carried out by a Medical Examiner (doctor) before the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (death certificate) is issued (see page 4). We may also review some of the care in more detail in the following weeks. A medical examiner officer will tell you if the death of your loved one is being further reviewed and will ask whether you would like to be contacted by the reviewer. If you don’t want the reviewer to contact you, or you don’t feel ready to be contacted at this point please do let us know, because some people do not want to be contacted at all. The second review, if this is needed, is carried out by a senior and very experienced doctor or nurse in the Learning from Deaths team, to identify where things went well and if we could have done more. If you have agreed to be contacted, the reviewer will call you and this should be within a few weeks. You will be able to tell us how you feel about the care your loved one received at this point. If you have questions about your loved one’s care, the reviewer will answer these questions if they can. If they are not able to 5

give you the information that you need, they will direct you to the hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) who will be able to assist you. If the reviewer identifies a problem with the care that your loved one received during their hospital admission, they will discuss this with the Patient Safety team and a member of that team may also contact you. We understand that you have a lot to think about at this time and that you may change your mind about wishing to speak to us about your loved one’s care. We are still happy to hear from you at a later point if you have any thoughts or concerns about any element of the hospital care. We recommend any further enquiries are made via the West Suffolk Foundation Trust Patient Advice and Liaison Service via phone: 01284 712555 or Email: pals@wsh.nhs.uk

For deaths in the Rosemary Ward, Community Hospital, Newmarket When a death occurs in the Rosemary Ward, Community Hospital in Newmarket the MCCD is usually issued by the GP. You will need to contact the medical examiner’s office on 01284 713647. Staff at the Newmarket Hospital will be able to guide you. It is advised that you also liaise with Rosemary Ward staff with regards to collection of property. Rosemary Ward, Community Hospital, Newmarket contact details: 01638 558483

Emergency department (ED) Usually deaths occurring in this department are sudden or unexpected. Sometimes a police officer will be called who will attend and act as a coroner’s officer. In some cases the doctor may be unable to issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) due to the death being unexpected, the cause of it being unknown, work related, or the result of an accident. The doctor will notify the coroner of the death, so please telephone the bereavement support officer on: 01284 713410 for advice on what to do next. The hospital may also be holding clothing, money and valuables belonging to your loved one, please check with the bereavement support officer. If there is police involvement, property may be listed and taken by the police on behalf of the coroner or for safe keeping. To retrieve any items please contact the coroner’s office in the first instance.

The coroner Under certain circumstances, it is a legal requirement to inform the coroner of a death. For example: • • • • •

If a patient dies having had a fall or an accident prior to death If the death was sudden and unexpected If they had a recent operation If there is a possibility of it being an unnatural death If it is work-related

If there is a need to contact the coroner, the coroner will then decide if the hospital doctor can issue the certificate or whether a post-mortem examination is needed. Coroner’s office contact details: Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.00pm Telephone: 0345 607 2040 Email: coroners.service@suffolk.gov.uk During out-of-office hours you will be connected to an answerphone. It is essential that you leave a contact name and number. Please be assured the coroner’s office will respond to your message as soon as they can.

Coroner’s post-mortem examination Relatives will be informed if a post-mortem examination is necessary. The coroner is legally empowered to request this, irrespective of religious beliefs, and consent is therefore not required. If you have any concerns, you can discuss these with the coroner’s officer. They will ask which funeral directors you intend to use and whether a burial or cremation is to be arranged. 9

A post-mortem examination is usually carried out within the hospital. It is a medical procedure carried out by a specialist pathologist to find out the cause of death more accurately. Following the outcome, the coroner’s office will be in touch and will inform you of the result. A certificate will be issued by the coroner, and this will be sent to the register office directly. Once this certificate has been issued you may then make an appointment to register the death at the register office. If the death requires further investigation an inquest may be opened and adjourned. The coroner’s office will guide you through their process.

Hospital post-mortem examination Occasionally the doctor treating the deceased may seek consent for a post-mortem examination to be carried out in order to improve their understanding of the deceased’s illness or the cause of death. This helps to improve their understanding of the disease. This kind of post-mortem examination is not legally required and is only carried out with the complete consent of the deceased’s next-of-kin. Where a hospital post-mortem examination is carried out, the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will still be issued by the hospital.

Can I come and pay my last respects? Whilst we will do everything we can to facilitate friends and relatives wishing to visit the mortuary to pay their last respects, the hospital does have limited facilities. You may find that going to the undertaker’s chapel of rest is preferable, but sometimes this may involve delay. If this is the case, the hospital mortuary viewing room is available by appointment. Please call the bereavement office on 01284 713410 between 9.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday, to arrange a mutually convenient date and time. In out-of-office hours, for next of kin only, please telephone 01284 713000 and ask switchboard to bleep the clinical site manager who may be able to make a similar arrangement for you. Appointments are not available between 5.00pm and 7.00pm.

Registration of death The death will need to be registered with the registration office within five days from the call from the medical examiner’s office (unless the coroner is involved). To do this you will need confirmation that the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been issued. An appointment to register the death is necessary. We recommend that you do not make the appointment until either the medical examiner officer or the coroner’s office advises you to do so. Normally a close relative, or the person making the funeral arrangements, registers the death. A death that occurs in Suffolk can be registered at any of the registration service points in the county (see page 18 for details). Please note that, at your request, staff at the Bury St Edmunds Registration Office are able to book appointments at any of these register offices on your behalf. You can also make an appointment to register a death online: www.suffolk.gov.uk/births-deaths-and-ceremonies This website also provides opening hours and contact details for all the offices and more detailed information about death registration. Bury St Edmunds Registration Office contact details: Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) 9.00am to 4.00pm Opens at 11.00am every third Wednesday of the month. Telephone: 0345 607 2060 Email: bury.registrars@suffolk.gov.uk Address: 7 Angel Hill Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 1UZ 12

You will be asked if you require copies of the death certificate for a number of official purposes. Individual circumstances vary, so we cannot say how many copies you will need. Please be aware that there is a fee for providing copies of the death certificate; there is no free copy. Copies may be purchased later. It would be helpful if the deceased’s birth certificate, marriage/ civil partnership certificate (as appropriate) and medical card could be taken to the registration office, but it is not essential. It is also advisable to take ID in respect of yourself, e.g. your passport/driving licence. The registrar will need the following information about the deceased, you may find it useful to write it in here and take this booklet to the appointment: The date and place of death....................................................................................................................... The date and place of birth.......................................................................................................................... Full name of the deceased (inc maiden).................................................................................. Their occupation........................................................................................................................................................ Their usual address............................................................................................................................................... Name, date of birth and occupation of married or civil partner................................................................................................................................................................ Details of any public sector pension.............................................................................................

The registrar will give you the following: •

A certificate for burial or cremation (green form) This should be given to your funeral director, for them to proceed with your instructions

•

A certificate of registration of death Form BD8 (white form) This is issued on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions for notifying them of a death but may be needed if you use the Tell Us Once service (see page 15).

Tell Us Once Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. When you register the death, the registrar will give you a unique reference number to use the Tell Us Once service online or by phone. Before you use Tell Us Once You’ll need the following details of the person who died: • • • • •

date of birth National Insurance number driving licence number vehicle registration number passport number

You’ll also need: • • • • • •

details of any benefits or entitlements they were getting, for example State Pension details of any local council services they were getting, for example Blue Badge the name and address of their next of kin the name and address of any surviving spouse or civil partner the name, address and contact details of the person or company dealing with their estate (property, belongings and money), known as their ‘executor’ or ‘administrator’ details of any public sector or armed forces pension schemes they were getting or paying in to

You need permission from the next of kin, the executor, the administrator or anyone who was claiming joint benefits or entitlements with the person who died, before you give their details. 15

Organisations Tell Us Once will contact Tell Us Once will notify: • • • •

• •

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) - to deal with personal tax (you need to contact HMRC separately for business taxes, like VAT) Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - to cancel benefits, for example Income Support Passport Office - to cancel a British passport Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) - to cancel a licence and remove the person as the keeper of up to 5 vehicles (contact DVLA separately if you keep or sell a vehicle) the local council - to cancel Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, a Blue Badge, inform council housing services and remove the person from the electoral register Veterans UK - to cancel Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments

Tell Us Once will also contact some public sector pension schemes so that they cancel future pension payments. They’ll notify: • • • • •

My Civil Service Pension NHS Pension Scheme Armed Forces Pension Scheme pension schemes for NHS staff, teachers, police and firefighters in Scotland local authority pension schemes, except where Tell Us Once is not available

There’s a different process to update property records if the person who died owns land or property. The service is not compulsory, it is entirely optional.

The information you give will be treated securely and confidentially. The organisations who are contacted will use the information to update records, to end services, benefits and credits as appropriate. Information will only be used as the law allows and will not be given to any department or organisation unless you have given your consent for them to be contacted.

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 not only 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.

Suffolk registration offices Any birth or death which occurs in Suffolk can be registered at any of the registration service points in the county (see below or visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/births-deaths-and-ceremonies for more information). REGISTRATION OFFICE

ADDRESS

Telephone Number

BURY ST EDMUNDS

7 Angel Hill BURY ST EDMUNDS, IP33 1UZ

0345 607 2060

FELIXSTOWE (contact Ipswich for an appointment)

The Town Hall, Upper Cliff Road, West FELIXSTOWE, IP11 2AG

0345 607 2050

HAVERHILL The Burton Centre, Camps (contact Bury St Edmunds Road, HAVERHILL, for an appointment) CB9 8HB

0345 607 2060

IPSWICH (Suffolk Register Office)

Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, IPSWICH, IP1 2BX

0345 607 2050

LOWESTOFT (Waveney Office)

Riverside Business Centre, 1 Riverside Road, LOWESTOFT, NR33 0TQ

0345 607 2070

NEWMARKET (contact BSE for an appointment)

Foley House, Wellington 0345 607 2060 Street, NEWMARKET, CB8 0HY

SAXMUNDHAM (contact Woodbridge for an appointment)

County Offices, Street Farm Road, SAXMUNDHAM, IP17 1AL

0345 607 2090

STOWMARKET

Milton House, Milton Road South, STOWMARKET, IP14 1EZ

0345 607 2080

SUDBURY

The Town Hall, Old Market Place, SUDBURY, CO10 1TL

0345 607 2010

WOODBRIDGE (The Melton Registration Office)

26a Quayside, WOODBRIDGE, IP12 1BH

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Wills, probate and inheritance When someone dies, you will need to get the legal right to deal with their property, money and possessions (their estate). In England and Wales, you may be able to apply for a grant of representation, known as probate. You can apply yourself or use a solicitor or another person licensed to provide probate services. For information, forms and guidance contact the Probate and Inheritance Tax Helpline 0300 123 1072 or visit www.gov.uk/ applying-for-probate For helpful advice on probate and other administrative issues that will need to be resolved visit www.gov.uk/after-a-death

Organ and tissue donation Organ donation Organ donation is the gift of an organ to help someone who needs a transplant. A transplant can save and dramatically improve someone’s life, but this relies on the generosity of donors agreeing to donate their organs at the time of their death. Organ donation can only take place from those who have died whilst on a life support machine in either Critical Care or the Accident and Emergency Department. They may be able to save up to 8 lives by donating their heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas. As of the 20th May 2020 organ donation law in England has changed. We have moved to an opt out system meaning that all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups. 21

Before organ donation can take place, a Specialist Nurse will need to talk to you so that you are fully informed about the process before giving written consent. Your loved one will always be treated with dignity and respect throughout the organ donation process. For more information about Organ Donation in the UK or to register your donation decision please visit: www.organdonation. nhs.uk or telephone 0300 123 23 23. Tissue donation Tissue donation can help thousands of people each year. Donated tissues such as heart valves, bone and eyes can save or dramatically improve the lives of many people suffering from illness or injury. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and their families, thousands of people each year receive life-transforming tissue transplants. West Suffolk Hospital works in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant to support the option of tissue donation. Almost anyone can be considered as a tissue donor. A specialist nurse from NHS Blood and Transplant may call you, or another family member, to discuss the option of donation for your relative. The Specialist Nurse will provide enough information to enable you to make the decision that is for you. Throughout the donation, the donor is treated with respect and dignity. After donation, our specialist team will ensure the donor maintains a natural appearance. Tissue donation will not delay funeral arrangements. If you wish to speak to a specialist nurse for tissue donation, please call 0800 432 0559. The website for tissue donation is www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/tissue-and-eye-services/

Donating a body for Anatomical Examination Some people have previously made arrangements to bequeath their body for medical science after death: this action is greatly appreciated. Relatives should contact the relevant organisation, which will then get in touch with the hospital direct. More information on body donation is available on: www.hta.gov.uk and follow the link ‘How to donate your body’.

Arranging the funeral There is no legal requirement to use the services of a funeral director, but many families find the prospect of organising a funeral without support from a funeral director very daunting. Good funeral directors are experienced at caring for those who have died and helping families organise funeral ceremonies. The deceased may have expressed a wish or a desire in respect of the funeral service, preferring burial or cremation for their eventual place of rest. You may like to find out whether a preference has been expressed: for instance, it may be included in a Will. Unless you have already done so, the funeral director will notify your local minister, priest or representative of your faith, who should visit you to talk about the service. Burials may be in a churchyard, local authority cemetery or woodland burial site. Similarly, cremated remains may be buried or scattered in a Garden of Remembrance or a favourite place. Please remember that if you wish to use your own garden for the ashes, you may someday wish to move house and therefore will lose access to that place.

Prices for funerals vary. You may wish to see a brochure and price list in order to compare costs before you make a decision. All funeral directors should be happy to give you an estimate of the cost. If you are in receipt of any benefit, the Department for Work and Pensions may be able to help with the cost. A funeral director will also visit you at home, if you would like, to help and advise on the necessary arrangements. The organisations listed below give further information: National Association of Funeral Directors Telephone: 0121 711 1343 www.nafd.org.uk National Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors Telephone: 0345 230 6777 www.saif.org.uk The Natural Death Centre Telephone: 01962 712690 www.naturaldeath.org.uk

Feelings For many, the death of someone close is perhaps the most overwhelming of all the experiences that they may ever have to face. The grief that accompanies such a loss may be intense and painful, affecting our emotions, bodies and lives. Even when expected, it may still be a shock. To mourn for someone we have known or loved is an entirely normal experience. Losing someone is an experience that many will share, but we will all react differently. For some, expressions of grief will be overwhelming and will be expressed publicly. For others, they may be very private, but no less deeply felt. Some of us may find it difficult to show our emotions. Whichever process you use to deal with grief, having someone to talk to has been found to be beneficial to cope. Emotionally, grief can change from moment to moment. These feelings are real and painful, but they are also acceptable, understandable and normal. Our grief may be experienced in a physical way - shaking, numbness, loss of appetite, vomiting and sleeplessness. These symptoms will pass, but if they persist, please talk to your doctor. Grief throws our lives out of balance and there are bound to be good days and bad days. Do not panic - all this is normal. In the meantime, try to avoid making hasty decisions. We may find that sometimes we need to be alone with our thoughts. At other times, we will feel the need to share them. Usually this will be easier with friends and family, but often they may feel awkward and inadequate, even though, deep down, they are desperate to help.

We may find it easier to talk with someone outside our circle of friends and family. Remember that your family doctor, hospital chaplain or representative of your own faith, social worker and bereavement groups do care and will listen and support you. Do not forget that children, like us, experience grief but may not be able to fully understand what is happening. Watch for a change in behaviour and sleep patterns, reassure them, share your emotions and do not be afraid to include them. Mourning is a time of convalescence. It is a time of facing the feelings that our loss evokes, our thoughts, the past, our present and future. Each of us in our own time will begin to learn to live with the absence of the one we love. Our period of mourning allows us to heal and find our capacity for life once more.

Useful contacts Bereavement Support Network Advice regarding funerals, probate, tax benefits and preventing junk mail to the deceased. www.bereavementsupport.co.uk Citizens Advice Local branch in Bury St Edmunds Telephone: 0800 144 8848 www.citizensadvice.org.uk Department for Work & Pensions Bereavement Service The phone line is run by the Pension Service but deals with calls about bereavement from people of all ages. Telephone: 0800 731 0469

Pastoral, Spiritual Advice and Support The Chaplaincy team at West Suffolk Hospital provides pastoral and spiritual care to all those who are bereaved and are grieving for people of all faiths and beliefs. You will find the chapel on the ground floor of the West Suffolk Hospital which is open for everyone to use for reflection, prayer or meditation, comfort and peace at any time day or night. If you would like to talk to someone from the chaplaincy team, please visit the chapel during normal working hours, phone on 01284 713771 or email info.chaplaincy@wsh.nhs.uk. If out of hours, please call the hospital switchboard on 01284 713000 and ask for the on-call chaplain. Chaplains can also answer any questions you may have about celebrating a person’s life or funeral arrangements. For further information on the chaplaincy, please visit our website: www.wsh.nhs.uk/services/chaplaincy

Book of Remembrance A book of remembrance is held in the chapel at the West Suffolk Hospital. If you would like your relative’s name recorded in our book of remembrance, please send an email to bereavement. support@wsh.nhs.uk with the name and date of death of the person to be remembered.

Support organisations Adult and Children Services, West Suffolk Hospital Social workers can be contacted during office hours at West Suffolk Hospital. Telephone: 01284 713400 Alternatively you can contact adult and children services, in Suffolk. Telephone: 0808 800 4005 Age UK Advice and information for older people, their families and carers. Telephone: 0800 169 6565 Email: enquiries@ageuk.org www.ageuk.org.uk The Bethany Bereavement Support Service St Edmunds Church Crypt Westgate Street Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QG Telephone: 07593 344408 The Compassionate Friends The Compassionate Friends is an organisation of bereaved parents and their families offering understanding, support and encouragement to others after the death of a child or children. Telephone: 0345 123 2304 Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk www.tcf.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Support Cruse Bereavement Support exists to promote the wellbeing of bereaved people and to enable anyone suffering bereavement caused by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. West Suffolk Cruse local branch Email: support.suffolk@cruse.org.uk Helpline: 0808 808 1677 Telephone: 01473 230888 www.cruse.org.uk Cruse Bereavement Support – Hope Again Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Support. It is a safe place where young people who are facing grief can share their stories with others. Email: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk Telephone: 0808 808 1677 www.hopeagain.org.uk London Friend - LGBTQ+ Support Helpline support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender+ people. Also welcome calls from affected family, friends, colleagues and carers. Email: office@londonfriend.org.uk Telephone: 020 7833 1674 www.londonfriend.org.uk

The Samaritans The Samaritans provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24-hours a day, seven days a week including Christmas and bank holidays for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Freephone: 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org The Samaritans Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk Branch Local Telephone: 0330 094 5717 www.samaritans.org Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) is a self-help organisation which offers group meetings, telephone support and information to meet the needs and break the isolation of people bereaved by suicide. Telephone: 0115 944 1117 Helpline: 0300 111 5065 Email: email.support@uksobs.org www.uksobs.com

WAY Widowed & Young National charity for men and women aged 50 or under. Suite 14, College Business Centre Uttoxeter Road Derby DE22 3WZ Helpline: 0300 201 0051 www.widowedandyoung.org.uk Winston’s Wish Winston’s Wish offers support, information and guidance to all those caring for a child or young person who has been bereaved. Helpline: 08088 020 021 Email: info@winstonswish.org www.winstonswish.org

Important information about this booklet The aim of this booklet is to provide some useful help and advice during the early days of your bereavement. We have done our best to make sure the booklet is correct at the time of going to print (May 2026) However, if you have any feedback or comments please contact: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust patient advice and liaison service Telephone: 01284 712555 Email: PALS@wsh.nhs.uk

Disclaimer Whilst the Trust is grateful for the support of companies advertising, we stress that any inclusion of advertising in this booklet does not imply approval or recommendation of the advertisers by the Trust.

Reference: West Suffolk Hospital bereavement booklet Publication Date: May 2026 Review Date: May 2028

At this difficult time of personal loss, many people look for meaningful and lasting ways to remember the life of someone they loved. Giving in memory can be a truly special way to honour their legacy. My WiSH Charity supports the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Donating to us allows us to enhance the care of patients and their families now and in the future. Talk to your funeral director or get in touch with us to discuss in memory giving. Telephone: 01284 712952 Email: legacy@wsh.nhs.uk

The Trust would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from services offering their help at this time. Whilst the Trust 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

here to help

Calls are charged at standard landline rates. Calls from mobiles are included in inclusive call packages. © Bereavement Support Network Ltd 2026

Do you need help with

Probate? You may need help, support or advice on what to do when someone dies in relation to probate. It may not always appear obvious if it will be required.

Call: 0333 240 0360 We offer free guidance on the legal and financial aspects of bereavement including your responsibilities and whether probate is required. You may need to establish whether a property is held in joint names or tenants in common, we can perform a simple check at no cost to establish the title deeds. 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.

This service is provided by

bereavement support network here to help

Probate Solutions for cars The death of a family member can be a very difficult and traumatic experience and if you are trying to sell a vehicle that belonged to a deceased family member or friend you currently have limited options. Auto Matters makes things very simple without you having to leave your home. Our free service helps to overcome all of these problems. We will provide payment to yourself, an executor or a solicitor before we move the vehicle.

To get a valuation of the car, please visit www.automatters.co.uk or call 0333 006 2904

AM AutoMatters Funded by

The Bereavement Support Network

bereavement support network here to help