Immediate
Concerns

What you’ll need to do

Please contact us in the first instance and we will guide and support you through what needs to happen. The steps are different depending on how the death has occurred, so we’ve detailed these below:

If the death occurs at home or in a care home:

You or the care home team should contact the GP connected with the care facility to request they visit the deceased to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
Once the above has happened you or the care home team can contact us to bring your loved one into our care, day or night
The GP will let you know the procedures you will need to follow to register the death, which needs to be done within 5 days.

When a death occurs in a hospital:

In general it will be the role of the Hospital Bereavement Team to contact the next of kin should you not have been present. The bereavement team will also:

Arrange for the issue of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
Facilitate the bringing of your loved one into our care
Take you through the procedure you will need to follow to register the death, which needs to be done within 5 days
Arrange for the collection of any personal belongings

If the death is unexpected  or takes place at home:

If a death occurs suddenly outside of a medical setting or the deceased has not been seen by a medical professional in approximately the last fourteen days:

Call the emergency services and request an ambulance and police immediately
The Emergency Services will arrange for the deceased to be taken to a mortuary where the death will be reported to a Coroner. Depending on the circumstances the coroner may call for a post-mortem or an inquest.
Only once the coroner has completed their investigations can we bring your loved one into our care and begin funeral arrangements

How we'll support you

Graham, Richard or Matthew meeting with your family at either our premises, your home or over the phone to arrange the funeral
Help you complete any paperwork and liaising with all third parties on your behalf
Run through step by step all the choices you’ll need to make – such as type of funeral, coffin, flowers, cars, music and orders of service
Arranging the funeral at a time, date and venue agreed with you. We will also help you find the right officiant for you
Bringing your loved one into our care, dressing them in your clothing or gown of choice and enabling you to visit your loved one who has passed at our chapel of rest by appointment 7 days a week
On the day of the funeral, we’ll be alongside you to ensure everything is as requested