When a death occurs at home, inform the doctor or district nurse as soon possible.

You need to have informed the doctor or nurse of the death before we can take your loved one into our care. You need not rush to have your relative removed if you want to spend a few hours or more with them, that is fine. Call us when you feel ready and will we act swiftly to carry out your wishes.

When death occurs in the hospital the procedure is very similar. You will need to speak to the bereavement office at the hospital for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and not your family doctor.

Once you have the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, (which may be sent directly to the Registrar) you can apply to the registrar to register the death. This should be done in the are in which the death took place. For more information on how to go about this please visit the government website: https://www.gov.uk/register-a-death

When the death has been reported to the Coroner, the procedure is somewhat different. The Coroner and his officers are working in your interest. No doctor will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This will be sent by the Coroner to the Registrar’s Office in the district where the death occurred after contact has been made with the Coroner’s office.