Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to hold in your heart.
We would like to express our sincere condolences to you and your family, for your loss.
(Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS trust)
This booklet will guide you through the first steps you need to take, following a bereavement.
The first step is for you to contact the bereavement team on the number 01905 760762 within 48 hours to enable them to obtain your details and wishes.
Some of the notes apply in every case, some may not be so important to you, or will only apply in certain cases.
There is a section for notes, to help you make sense of this process but if you have any questions or concerns, please call the bereavement team on 01905 760762.
The bereavement team will guide you through the process of obtaining the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) and explain the next stages of the process.
They can offer advice and support and will be working with the medical staff in the hospital to facilitate the completion of the MCCD.
A key role of the Medical Examiner (ME) and Medical Examiner Officer (MEO) is to explain the MCCD to the bereaved and to help them to understand the cause of death, by answering any questions. They will also ask the bereaved families to provide feedback on the care that the patient received. You will receive a phone call to discuss this.
Although the ME team may not be able to answer your questions immediately, they will assist in seeking clarification as appropriate and advise you about sources of additional support available.
Occasionally a death certificate can’t be issued by the team of doctors and the death will be referred to the Coroner. If this happens the Coroner’s team will contact you directly to talk you through the next steps.
A referral to the Coroner does not automatically mean that a Post Mortem is required. The Coroner’s role is to investigate further and record a cause of death where it is currently unknown.
If you wish to visit the mortuary, you will need to make an appointment, by calling the appropriate number below:
Worcester Hospital mortuary: 01905 760343
Alexandra Hospital mortuary: 01527 512045
There are currently only limited slots each day Monday-Friday.
If you would like to speak to the Hospital Chaplain, please ask the Ward Staff or Bereavement Staff who will be available on the ward and are happy to arrange this for you. They can contact representatives of all faiths as requested.
Any valuables i.e. jewellery/money will be available from the ward. All wards have Ward Assistants. The next of kin will be asked to produce some form of identification i.e. driving licence or credit card before signing for money or valuables. The personal effects e.g. clothing and toiletries may be collected directly from the ward.
It is very important that you do not make a registration appointment prior to the medical examining process being completed. If this does occur, the appointment is likely to be cancelled.
Once the MCCD has been completed and reviewed by the ME, the team will call you and you will be advised that you can then make the appointment.
You can book the appointment on the phone or online, using the following details:
• 01905 768181 (this is a central hub, where the team will be able to make you an appointment at your local registry office)
• go to www.worcestershire.gov.uk
• click council services
• then click on option ‘births, deaths and marriages and citizenship’
• then scroll down to ‘deaths’ button
• then click on ‘registering the death’
• then click ‘book an appointment and fill in the form’
If you don’t live in Worcestershire (or are unable to travel), you can register a death by ’declaration’. Please contact your local registry office to do this and inform the bereavement team of your intentions.
The Registrar will need to know:
• The date and place of death.
• The deceased’s first name(s) and surname (and maiden name if applicable).
• The deceased’s date and place of birth.
• The deceased’s occupation.
• Whether the deceased was getting a pension or allowance from public funds.
• If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower.
• Which funeral director you are using.
The Registrar will:
• Give you a copy of the death certificate (certified copy of the register entry) – which will be purchased at a cost to yourself.
• Send the certificate for burial/cremation (also known as the green form or form 9) to your chosen funeral director, unless the Coroner has already given an order for burial or cremation to the funeral directors or direct cremation service you are using.
• Provide you with a reference number for the DWP (BD8) for pension purposes unless you are using the Tell Us Once service.
• Provide you with a unique reference number for the Tell Us Once service (see page 6).
Worcestershire Registration service also provides the National ‘Tell Us Once’ service when you register a death. On your behalf they will notify all central and local government and council departments to inform them of the death, such as council tax, pensions and blue badges.
Information and documents you are required to provide:
• The deceased person’s National Insurance number and their NHS number.
www.direct.gov.uk/death-tellusonce
Stop mail is a free of charge service provided by the Bereavement Support Network, helping you to stop mail and reduce the likelihood of identity theft in your loss.
Web: stopmail.co.uk
Tel: 0333 006 8114
Most burial grounds and cemeteries have set fees for burials, of which your Funeral Director can advise you.
Cremation can not take place until the cause of death is definitely known, the death has been registered and the appropriate documentation sent to your appointed funeral director.
Ashes can be scattered in a garden of remembrance or in a favourite spot – permission for this may have to be granted. They may be buried in a church yard or cemetery or they can be kept.
If you have any other questions do ask your Funeral Director. A helpful booklet “Questions People Ask About Cremation” can be obtained from your Funeral Director.
You should find out if your relative or friend made a Will. The Will may give the names of the executors or the people legally entitled to deal with the deceased’s estate and any questions relating to taxation.
When you contact the Bereavement office the team will ask for your choice of funeral directors and your contact information.
When the Medical Examiner Officers contact you to go through the paperwork and registration process, they will enquire if your choice has been made. On occasion this may be a decision you are still making.
You may contact any Funeral Director of your choice. You don’t have to wait until the MCCD is completed. If the patient’s case has been referred to the coroner, it may not be possible for the hospital doctor to issue the MCCD. In these cases, your funeral director and the coroners office will be able to support you with this process.
If you would like to make a donation to Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust, or a specific area within it, please contact the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals charity on the details below:
info@wahcharity.org 01905 768954 www.wahcharity.org
There are various people, companies and other interested parties who need to be informed of the death.
Organisations Tick ()
Local social services if meals on wheels, home help, day centre transport were used
Bank and/or Building Society
GP Surgery they were registered at
The local Council / DWP office to cancel pensions, allowances, benefits etc
Any employer or trade union
A child’s or young person’s teacher, employer or college, should be informed if a parent, brother, sister, grandparent or close friend has died
Car insurance company. People driving a car insured in the deceased’s name are not legally insured
Utility bill suppliers
Royal Mail deliveries, local newsagents, milkman
Professional organisations
Local Authority Housing Department, if the deceased was receiving Housing Benefits/Council Tax benefit, also if the deceased was living in property rented from the Council
Private Landlord
Will
Birth / Marriage Certificate
Funeral Plans
Life Insurance Policy
Home Insurance Policy
Shares / Investment Certificates
Benefits
Mortgage Papers
Property Deeds
Premium Bonds
Bank Accounts
Pension Details
Appointments
Doctors / Hospital Appointments
Driving Licence
Child Benefit
Car Documents
National Insurance documents
Passport
Membership Cards
Debit / Credit Cards
Bereavement Support Payment
www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment
Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested. This means what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get.
When your partner died, you must have been:
• under State Pension age
• living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits
• married to your partner, in a civil partnership with them, or living with them as if you were married
Your partner must have either:
• paid a certain amount of Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions, in any one tax year since 6 April 1975
• died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work
You can still make a claim if you’re not sure whether your partner paid enough National Insurance contributions. The Bereavement Service will let you know.
You cannot claim Bereavement Support Payment if you’re in prison.
You usually need to make a claim within 21 months of your partner’s death.
If it’s been over 21 months since your partner’s death, you may still be able to make a claim if their cause of death was only recently confirmed. Call the Bereavement Service helpline (contact details below) for help.
How soon you make your claim can also affect how much money you’ll get. You usually need to make a claim within 3 months of your partner’s death to get the full amount of payments.
How you apply depends on where you are.
If you’re in England, Scotland or Wales
You can apply using a form or by phone. Download a Bereavement Support Payment pack (form BSP1) from www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment/how-to-claim
Bereavement Service helpline
Telephone: 0800 151 2012
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 and then 0800 151 2012
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
You may be entitled to claim financial support if you earn benefits. The DWP bereavement service will check you are eligible for help with funeral costs or other benefits. You may find more information online at www.gov.uk
Telephone: 0800 731 0469
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Include them as much as you can, tell them as much as you can, reassure them as much as you can. Evidence tells us that the best support a child can get in grief is seeing the adults around them grieving.
Like adults, they too find it hard to understand and cope if they are not told what is happening. When information is kept from children, sometimes their imagination can make the situation far more frightening as they seek to make sense of what is happening around them. It can lead to them feeling isolated and excluded.
• Use simple language when talking with them
• Give them time and the opportunity to ask questions
• Give them plenty of love and reassurance
• Share your own emotions, this helps children to learn that it is okay and healthy to express emotions
• Give children the space and opportunity to draw, write stories and express themselves as they wish in order to say goodbye to the person who has died
• Offer children the opportunity to participate in the funeral if they wish to and you feel comfortable with that. It is a good idea to speak to the school or college that your child attends so that they can also offer support. Talk to your child about this.
• Finally, if you are worried, that’s the time to seek help. Arrange an appointment and talk through your concerns with your GP.
• Talk through what has happened with someone you trust e.g. your family, a close friend, an appropriate support group.
• Do take good care of yourself, get lots of rest, eat well and give yourself lots of time to grieve.
• Contact your GP if you feel unwell.
• Keep in touch with friends and family – remember that most people feel honoured to be asked to help. Many people feel awkward and embarrassed about offering their help, so it may be left to you to ask for it, even though this may be difficult for you.
• Begin to make longer term plans for the future so that you will always have something to look forward to, but avoid rushing into making any big changes in your life.
If you would like to talk to someone about the care of your loved one or have any concerns you would like to discuss please contact our:
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
wah-tr.pals@nhs.net
Tel: 0300 123 1732
Complaints team
wah-tr.complaints@nhs.net
Tel: 0300 123 1733
General and practical advice following a bereavement
Age UK
Worcs: 01905 724294
Freephone: 0800 678 1602
Email: referralhub@ageukhw.org.uk www.ageuk.org.uk/wyvern/ www.ageuk.org.uk/brwf/
Bereavement Support Network
Advice regarding funerals, probate, tax benefits and preventing junk mail to the deceased.
Tel: 0333 240 0360 www.bereavementsupport.co.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau
Tel: 0808 278 7891
Text: 0798 44 39 479 stating (i) your name (ii) your postcode (iii) the type of advice needed (for example DEBT, HOUSING or BENEFITS). We will then call you back on your mobile phone. Online at advice@citaworcester.org.uk for initial contact by email. www.citizensadviceworcester.org.uk/
Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Integrated Care System
www.hwics.org.uk
Samaritans
Tel: 116 123 (free)
Tel: 0330 094 5717 (local charges apply)
Email: jo@samaritans.org www.samaritans.org
Advice for carers
Worcestershire Carers Association
Tel: 0300 012 4272
www.carersworcs.org.uk
Specialist Bereavement support
Bereavement Support South Worcestershire
Tel: 01905 760934
www.bereavementsupportworcestershire.org.uk
Compassionate Friends
TCF offers many different kinds of support for bereaved families whatever the cause of your loss, wherever you are in the UK, and whatever your circumstances.
Tel: 0345 123 2304
Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk
www.tcf.org.uk
Macmillan Cancer Support
Tel: 0808 808 0000
www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/ supporting-someone/coping-with-bereavement
St Richard’s Hospice
Wildwood Drive, Worcester, WR5 2QT
Tel: 01905 763963
www.strichards.org.uk/our-care/supporting-the-family/ bereavement-service
Cruse Bereavement
Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Worcester: 01905 22223
Email: worcestershire@cruse.org.uk www.cruse.org.uk
West Mercia Victim Support
Tel local victim care team: 01905 726896
Tel national helpline: 0808 168 9111 www.victimsupport.org.uk
Primrose Hospice
St Goldwalds Road, Bromsgrove
Tel: 01527 871051
Family support team: 01527 889799
www.primrosehospice.org
Child and baby loss
Child Death
Tel: 0800 282 986
www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk
Lullaby Trust (Infant Deaths)
Bereavement support: 0808 802 6868
Information and Advice: 0808 802 6869
Email: support@lullabytrust.org.uk www.lullabytrust.org.uk
Miscarriage Association
Tel: 01924 200799
Email: info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
SANDS (Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Society)
Tel: 0808 164 3332
Email: helpline@sands.org.uk www.sands.org.uk
Acorns Children’s Hospice
Tel: 01905 767676
Email: threecounties.admin@acorns.org.uk www.acorns.org.uk
Terrence Higgins Trust
HIV and sexual health
Tel: 0808 802 1221
Email: info@tht.org.uk www.tht.org.uk
2Wish
Support for those affected by sudden death in young people
Tel: 01443 853125
Email: support@2wish.org.uk www.2wish.org.uk
Bromsgrove & Redditch
Central England Co-operative
23 High Street, Bromsgrove 01527 958548
11 William Street, Redditch 01527 958385
James Giles & Sons
24 Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove 01527 872318
26-28 High Street, Studley 01527 852213
Huntleys
58 Ipsley Street, Smallwood, Redditch 01527 903999
R.L. Rea
17 Rock Hill, Bromsgrove 01527 831723
Thomas Brothers
Birchfield House, 494 Evesham Road, Redditch 01527 547777
12A Red Lion Street, Alvechurch 01214 453422
100 Alcester Road, Wythall 01564 822001
66 Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove 01527 831700
Greyfriars, Birmingham Road, Alcester 01789 330939
Droitwich Area
A. V. Band
St Andrews Street, Droitwich 01905 794675
George Crump & Son
32-33 Hanbury Road, Droitwich 01905 814918
James Giles & Sons
Lee Russell Independent Funeral Directors 10 –12 Colman Road, Droitwich
Evesham & Bidford on Avon Area
Funeralcare
Merstow Green
20 Merstow Green, Evesham 01386 897885
E Hill Fairfield House, Defford Road, Pershore 01386 552141
Martin Grinnell
Attwood
George John
99 Hobs Moat Road, Solihull 0121 742 1552
Mortons
705 Bristol Road South, Northfield 0121 476 9111
1856 Pershore Road, Cotteridge 0121 459 9111
218 New Road, Rubery 0121 453 9111
Worcester Area
A. V. Band
41 St. Nicholas Street, Worcester 01905 814542 1 Malvern Road, St Johns, Worcester 01905 947272
Bedwardine
The Coach House, 30 Bromyard Road St John’s, Worcester 01905 748811 Co-op Funeralcare
Hoskins 129 Astwood Road, Worcester 01905 27862
Jackson Family 54-56 Barbourne Road, Worcester 01905 616222
Merstow Green Unit 8, Brindley Road, Warndon, Worcester 01905 886520
Worcester Funeral Services Kilbury Drive, Worcester 01905 23499
Please contact bereavement team on 01905 760762 if you would like this leaflet in another language or format (such as Braille or easy read).
Bengali
Urdu
Portuguese
Polish
Chinese
Reference: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Bereavement Book
Review Date: February 2028
Publication Date: February 2026
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.
Please note, whilst information is correct at the time of publication, this may be subject to future change.
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.
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 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.
