What to do when someone dies
In Hospital
If the death occurs in hospital, the hospital staff will
contact the person named by the deceased as next of kin.
This may be, but need not be, a relative. The hospital will
advise whether it is possible for a doctor to issue the
medical certificate, and when this will be available for
collection. If a doctor who has treated the deceased is
unable to issue a death certificate the death will be
reported to HM Coroner for that district.
Please note that hospital bereavement offices are usually
only open during normal working weekdays.
At Home or in a Nursing Home
If the death was expected, contact the doctor who attended
the deceased during their final illness, if the death
occurred at a Nursing Home the staff will contact the
doctor. If the doctor can certify the cause of death you
will be given:
- A Medical Certificate that shows the cause of death (this will be in a sealed envelope, addressed to the registrar).
- A Formal Notice which states that the doctor has signed the Medical Certificate and tells you how to register the death.
Suddenly
If death is sudden or unexpected, you should contact the
following people:
- the family doctor (if known)
- the deceased's nearest relative
- the police, who will help find the people listed above if necessary.
If there is any reason to suspect that the death was not due to natural causes, do not touch or remove anything in the room. The death may be referred to the coroner.
The Coroner is involved
In any of the following circumstances the doctor may
report the death to the coroner:
- an accident or injury
- an industrial disease
- during a surgical operation
- before recovering from an anaesthetic
- if the cause of death is unknown
- the death was sudden and unexplained
If the person who has died has not been seen or treated
by a doctor within the last 14 days or has been admitted
into hospital less than 24 hours before they died the death
must be reported to the coroner.
Contact us for advice on procedures.
