for
and friends
This leaflet explains what to do when someone dies at home, who to inform, how to register the death and the follow up support available from Trinity.
Whilst there is a process for registering a death, with some legal requirements for certain key actions that must happen, it is okay not to rush to do anything in the initial moments and hours after the death of someone who had been expected to die
It is a difficult and upsetting time, and you may want to spend some time to sit with the person who has died and reflect on what has happened. You may also want to call a friend or relative if they weren’t present at the time of death to come and be with you
Whilst a death of a person under the care of Trinity may have been expected, when the moment comes it can still be a shock. It is natural for an overwhelming sense of loss or relief to arise These reactions are normal, particularly if the person who has died was unwell for a long time.
The first steps you need to take will be determined by when the death occurs
During the day
If the death has happened during the daytime in normal surgery hours, phone the General Practitioner (GP) surgery for the person who has died, to arrange for them to send a doctor or nurse to the home
At night
If the death has happened in the middle of the night and the person’s GP surgery is open the next day, it ’s okay to wait until the morning to call. Alternatively, if you do not want to wait you can call 111 in the middle of the night
What happens when you reach someone at 111?
You will speak initially to a call handler, and it is important at this point to inform them that the death was expected. Not explaining this may lead to the call handler thinking it is an unexpected death and treating it as an emergency.
Once you have spoken to the call handler, you will be called back by a clinician, who will confirm the details of the death, and make arrangements for a doctor or another health care professional to visit (Sometimes, there can be a long delay ie: several hours before someone can come out to confirm the death)
Why does the doctor have to come out?
When someone dies at home, a doctor or another health care professional (eg: an appropriately registered nurse or ambulance clinician) needs to ‘verify the death’.
Verification of death is the process of confirming the fact of death. This must happen before the person who has died is transferred from the home
The GP of the person who has died (or other doctor involved in their care prior to the death) will need to produce an electronic Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) for the death to be certified.
NB: If it is an out-of-hours doctor who does not know the person who has died, then they will not be able to produce a MCCD, but they will still visit your home to confirm the death and hand over to the GP of the person who has died.
Once the doctor has visited what happens next?
The doctor will contact an independent medical professional known as the ‘Medical Examiner ’. Every death in England and Wales is now referred routinely to a Medical Examiner
This service provides an independent review of the cause of death and gives the next of kin time to ask any questions they may have The Medical Examiner will contact the person named as the next of kin for the person who has died. If you would rather not speak to the Medical Examiner or would want someone else to speak to them please let the doctor know.
When will the medical examiner make contact?
The medical examiner will make contact as soon as possible after the death (usually within a few days) by telephone
The medical examiner ’s office will be able to: confirm the person’s cause of death discuss the care they received answer your questions, and concerns explain the wording on the MCCD agreed by the doctor and medical examiner
If the cause of death is unknown , they will also be able to talk you through the referral process to the coroner (if required)
What happens once you have been contacted by the Medical Examiner
You do not need to visit the GP surgery to collect the medical certificate of cause of death.
Following your call with the medical examiner ’s office, the medical certificate of cause of death
will then be electronically sent by the doctor straight to the registrar in the borough where the death was recorded.
You will then be able to book an appointment to register the death.
Registering the death
By law you must register the death within five working days, unless the coroner is involved (this is unlikely in the case of an expected death, but your GP will give you more information and support should this be the case)
How to register the death
Registering a death is free and takes around 40 minutes to complete in person through an appointment
You will need to make an appointment with the registrar in the same district as the death occurred.
You can find the registrar ’s office telephone number on the internet (eg: search for Lambeth registrar office contact if the death happened in Lambeth)
Once the death has been registered
It is recommended you pay for some additional copies of the formal death certificate as all banks, pensions, investment and life insurance companies will request an original copy and a photocopy is not acceptable.
Fast track death registration
The medical examiner ’s office is sensitive to religious and cultural needs surrounding burial. They will make sure they call next of kin as soon as possible within 24 hours of the death.
What happens if the death is referred to the Coroner?
Coroners investigate all deaths where the cause is unknown , where there is reason to think the death may not be due to natural causes, or when further inquiry is needed for some other reason.
The GP has a legal duty to report any death that meets the coroner ’s referral criteria. The GP or medical examiner ’s officer will tell you if the death has to be referred.
The coroner will investigate each case in an appropriate way. It may be as simple as consulting with the doctor who last treated the person who has died. Sometimes a postmortem examination may be required but this is uncommon.
When can I start making arrangements for the funeral?
Once the death has been confirmed you can then phone the funeral director of your choice. You may have thought about and decided already which firm you would like to use, but if not, you can find local funeral directors listed online or Trinity can provide a list
Once you have called the funeral director, they will visit and will arrange to move the person who has died to their chapel of rest Funeral directors will visit at any time by arrangement but could charge more for visits made outside of normal office hours.
Immediate and ongoing bereavement support
Following the death, a member of the Royal Trinity Hospice clinical team will reach out to you by telephone to check in, offer support, and provide any needed advice or information.
If you require assistance or information and haven’t received a call from us, please don’t hesitate to reach out at 0207 787 1062.
Additionally, you will receive a letter from Trinity ’s Bereavement Service, extending support to you and your family members. While you may not feel the need for this support immediately, you may find it helpful at a later stage. It ’s important to note that there is no time limit on accessing this support - it remains available whenever you and your family may need it
Medication and equipment
If you have medical equipment that needs to be returned, please contact the professional who organised the delivery and they will arrange for it to be collected.
If you have medications that need to be disposed of, please return them to your local community pharmacy
Other practical advice
We have a welfare benefits advisor at Trinity who can be contacted for advice about financial matters arising from the death of your relative Should you wish to contact them directly, please call on 020 7787 1062
There is information available from the Department of Work and Pensions which may help you in the days after with other practical and financial arrangements. This is available at www.gov.uk/after-a-death
Support and remembrance
Royal Trinity Hospice offer a number of services of remembrance and reflection for loved ones to attend throughout the year, with information available on our website
Royal Trinity Hospice
30 Clapham Common North Side
London SW4 0RN
Call 020 7787 1000
Email enquiries@royaltrinityhospice.london www.royaltrinityhospice.london
RoyalTrinityHospice
@royaltrinityhospice
@trinityhospice
If you would like this information in a different format, such as large print, or to be translated, please speak to the Communications team on 020 7787 1000 or email media@royaltrinityhospice.london
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Charity no. 1013945
Date of publication June 2024