Support and coping with bereavement
The following websites provide a lot of valuable information about services in times of bereavement:
For emotional support: NHS.UK
Please remember that you can make a face to face appointment with us at any time if you feel you are struggling to cope with your feelings. Occasionally grief reactions can be unusual or abnormal depending on the circumstances.
For practical information on what to do after someone dies: GOV.UK
Arrangements
An expected death at home will be certified by the community nursing team (0300 0830100). They will pass the information to us very quickly.
The practice then needs to email the details of the person and what happened to the medical examiners. This is usually done by the GP who knows the patient the best.
The medical examiners are independent doctors who may be experienced trained GPs or hospital doctors. They may phone the relative who is the most involved in arrangements to confirm the circumstances of what happened. They will examine the medical records. After a couple of days they will contact the practice to confirm the cause of death.
After this the practice can complete the death certificate which is emailed to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (further information here).
The registrar will contact the family to let them know that the family can make an appointment to collect the death certificate.
Cremation or burial
If a cremation is being arranged the practice needs to complete a detailed cremation form and send this to the funeral directors. This form needs to be completed by either the GP who knew the patient the best or the medical examiner.
Collecting equipment from the home
There may be a lot of equipment such as a hospital bed, commodes etc which need removing after someone has died. This can be arranged through the community nurses.
Arranging a funeral
Please click on this GOV.UK link for how to arrange a funeral.