North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

NHS

Practical help and advice after a deathWhat do we do next?

Information for relatives, carers and friends

We are sorry to hear that you have just learned

of the death of someone close to you and we

wish to express our sincere sympathy to you and

your family at this sad time. You may be feeling

bewildered, distressed and unsure of how to

proceed with arrangements.

This booklet gives some useful and helpful advice

during the early days of your bereavement.

Please do not hesitate to ask questions if you are

unsure about anything. Our staff will always be

pleased to help.

Contents

Who can help me? ...........................................................................................1-2

Viewing arrangements ..................................................................................3-4

Tissue Donation, what do I need to do? .............................................. 4

When can I collect any property and valuables? .......................... 4

Will a post mortem need to be held? .................................................... 5

How do I register a death? ............................................................................ 6

Who can register the death? ....................................................................6-7

What do I need to take to the Registrars office? ........................... 8

What if there is a Will? ...................................................................................... 9

How do I arrange the funeral? ............................................................9-10

Can I get help with funeral costs? ......................................................... 10

When can the funeral take place? .........................................................11

What types of funeral are available? .................................................. 12

Who do I need to inform of the death? .......................................13-14

What if I find it difficult to cope with my grief? .......................15-16

Supporting children who are grieving. ................................................ 16

Funeral director collection certificate .................................................. 17

Notes ........................................................................................................................... 18

Feedback form ..................................................................................................... 19

Who can help me?

Hospital Bereavement Support OfficerWhen someone dies in hospital the hospital Bereavement Support Officer is there to help you with many of the practical issues. These include making arrangements for you to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) and any personal effects and valuables, as well as making an appointment for you to register the death. They can also help you make an appointment to visit the person who has died.

The Bereavement Support Office is open between 8.00am and 4.00pm Monday – Friday. A Bereavement Support Officer will contact you as soon as possible within these hours to help you make all your necessary arrangements.

Please do not turn up at the hospital without an appointmentto collect the MCCD as sometimes certificates can take a numberof days to complete and may not be ready when you arrive.It is understandable that you may be feeling worried at this time so you are more than welcome to contact the Bereavement Support Officer directly for information and help.

They can be contacted on the following numbers:

University Hospital of North Tees, telephone: 01642 383286

University Hospital of Hartlepool, telephone: 01429 522042

Messages can be left on the answering machine or you can contact the hospital switchboard and ask them to bleep the Bereavement Support Officer.

University Hospital of North Tees, telephone: 01642 617617

University Hospital of Hartlepool, telephone: 01429 266654

1

Hospital Chaplains The Chaplains are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can offer advice, comfort and support to bereaved relatives, carers and friends.

They can be contacted on the following numbers:

University Hospital of North Tees, telephone: 01642 383138

University Hospital of Hartlepool, telephone: 01429 522776

Messages can be left on the answering machine or you could contact the hospital switchboard and ask them to bleep the Chaplains.

2

Viewing ArrangementsRelatives and close friends may wish to see the person who has died whilst they remain in the care of the hospital, others may prefer to wait until they have been transferred to the care of a funeral director. Some people may wish to remember the person as they were. It is a personal choice.

If you do wish to visit at the hospital you must make an appointment before you arrive. Please speak to the Bereavement Support Officer or you can contact the mortuary directly. The mortuary staff will arrange the viewing to respect all religious views and customs. Please tell us, when you make your appointment, of any special arrangements that you wish to make.

You can arrange an appointment to visit by contacting the following numbers:

University Hospital of North TeesMortuaryTelephone: 01642 624347 Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm

University Hospital of HartlepoolMortuaryTelephone: 01429 522338 Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm

Outside of these hours: (Evening, weekends and bank holiday)Telephone: 01642 617617 and tell the switchboard operator you would like to arrange a visit. They will contact a member of the team to make an appointment with you. Please note that in some circumstances the appointment may need to be arranged for the following day.

3

At the time of your appointment you will be met by a member of our bereavement team; if you wish, a hospital chaplain or any other faith leader can go with you. The viewing facility is calm and quiet where you can spend some time, fully supported by our staff.

Tissue Donation, what do I need to do?If your friend or relative carried a donor card, was on the organ donor register or said they would like to make a donation of organs or tissues this may still be possible up to 24 hours after the death. If this is something you wish to consider please contact: Tissue Services on 0800 4320559. Your details will be taken and a Tissue Co-ordinator will contact you.

When can I collect any property and valuables?Any property and valuables will be held by the hospital for safekeeping, and may be collected from the Bereavement Support Officer when you come to collect the medical certificate of cause of death.

If the death occurred in or on the way to the Accident and Emergency Department, the police may have taken any valuables and other property. We will let you know if this has happened.

4

Will a post mortem need to be held?In some cases the doctor cannot issue a medical certificate of cause of death but must refer the death to the Coroner. The Coroner may decide to order a post mortem. This cannot be refused, as it is a legal requirement.

If the death has to be referred to the Coroner we will tell you the reason why and explain the procedure. The Coroner’s Office will then contact you as soon as possible. The Coroner’s Office can be contacted on the following number:

Teesside Coroner’s Office telephone: 01642 729350

CoronerThe Home Office has produced an information leaflet ‘When Sudden Death Occurs’ that your Bereavement Support Officer will be able to give you. You can only obtain the results of post mortems ordered by the Coroner by discussing this with a member of the Coroner’s staff.

Hospital Post MortemOccasionally hospital staff may request a post mortem examination. This would be discussed with the family by the medical staff concerned and your consent would be required. Please ask to see our information leaflet ‘Post Mortem Examination: Information for Relatives and Carers’ which your Bereavement Support Officer will be able to give you.

Family members may request a post-mortem to be carried out and they should discuss their wishes with the Bereavement Support Officer but you would need to do this as soon as possible.

The results of a hospital post-mortem can be discussed with the family by the Consultant.

5

How do I register the death?A death must be registered at the Register Office in the district where the person died within 5 days. It can also be registered in the district where the person lived, (by declaration). However, this will take a little longer to arrange.

If a post-mortem has been ordered, the death cannot be registered until written clearance from the Coroner has been given to the Registrar. In such cases, the issue of a certificate for burial or cremation may be delayed by a day or two. If an inquest is to be held, an interim certificate may be issued to enable the funeral to take place.

Who can register the death?A death can only be registered by:

• a relative of the deceased person, usually the next of kin• another occupier of the home of the deceased person • someone who was present at the death• the Bereavement Support Officer representing the hospital• the person arranging the funeral, but not the funeral director

The Bereavement Support Officer will make an appointment at the appropriate Register office for you to register the death. They will tell you the date and time of your appointment and where your appointment will be.

6

University Hospital of North Tees:If the person died at North Tees Hospital, there is a registrar’s office on site which can be accessed by appointment only. You will be asked to collect the medical certificate and property from the Bereavement Support Office before your registration appointment. There may be times when appointments will be at the main Register office located in Balaclava Street, Stockton.

Stockton Register OfficeNightingale HouseBalaclava StreetStockton on TeesTS18 2ALTelephone: 01642 527720

University Hospital of Hartlepool:If the person died at Hartlepool Hospital you will be asked to return to the hospital to collect the medical certificate and any property. You will then be directed to the Register office in Hartlepool, based in the Civic Centre.

Hartlepool Register OfficeCivic CentreVictoria RoadHartlepoolTelephone: 01429 523337

7

What do I need to take to the Register office?To register the death you will need to take:

• the medical certificate of cause of death • the deceased birth certificate (if available)• the deceased medical card (if available)

You should also give the Registrar the following information about the deceased person’s:

• full name and address (including maiden name) • date and place of birth• date and place of death• marital status• occupation and occupation of spouse if married• the name and date of birth of any surviving spouse• whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or

allowance from public funds

The registrar will give you a certified copy of the Death Certificate for which there will be a small fee. If you need further Certified copies for insurance, bank account, savings certificate or other purposes, you can buy them from the Registrar at the time of registration.

Some Register offices offer a service entitled “Tell Us Once”. This service allows the Registrar to tell some government departments and local council services of the death which can save you having to make a lot of phone calls. The Bereavement Support Officer will tell you if this service is available to you.

You will be given “the green form”, a certificate that you should hand to your funeral director as soon as possible. This will allow them to proceed with the funeral arrangements.

You will also be given a “white form”, the Certificate of Registration / Notification of Death which you will need to send to your local Social Security Office.

8

What if there is a Will?If there is a Will you should check to see if it contains any final wishes about the funeral. The Will also gives the names of the executors or the person legally entitled to deal with the estate of the person who has died.

If you need assistance, a solicitor can help you with the administration of the estate (property, possessions and personal matters), and any questions which may arise about taxation. There will be a charge for this service.

How do I arrange the funeral?Your relative or friend may have expressed their wishes regarding the funeral in their Will, for example, a burial or cremation.

If you are planning to use the service of a funeral director, you should contact the funeral director of your choice as soon as possible, even before you have registered the death. You can contact a funeral director at any point including weekends. However, do not confirm funeral arrangements until you are sure the death does not have to be reported to the Coroner, as this may affect the date when the funeral can be held. The Bereavement Support Officer can provide a list of funeral directors in the local area if needed.

Funerals can be expensive. We advise you to check if any financial arrangements have been made, otherwise you may have to bear the cost yourself. As costs can vary between funeral directors it may be worth getting more than one estimate before making a decision.

Almost all funeral directors are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF). We would recommend you use a funeral director who belongs to such an organisation as they have Codes of Practice and set out rules and regulations.

9

Some people choose to make their own funeral arrangements, if you are planning not to use a funeral director, please inform the Bereavement Support Officer who will explain your responsibilities.

On the back page of this booklet you will find a “Funeral Director Transfer of Care Certificate”. This is to be completed and handed to the funeral director. This certificate allows the funeral director to remove the person who has died from the hospital so it is important that you give it to them completed when you make your arrangements.

Can I get help with funeral costs?You may qualify for a funeral payment from the Social Fund to help meet the cost of the funeral if you are receiving certain types of benefits.

You can find out if you are eligible to make claim by calling the department for Work and Pensions on: 0845 6060265

If you are eligible, they will process your claim and explain how you can find out if you have been successful. This can take up to 3 to 4 weeks.

If you are worried about money or funeral arrangements please do not hesitate to speak to the Bereavement Support Officer who can offer advice based on your circumstances.

10

When can the funeral take place?Your funeral director will advise you when the funeral can be held once they have checked with the cemetery or crematorium. Funeral directors will make all the necessary arrangements. If needed, they can arrange for the body of the person who has died to be taken to another part of the country, or even to another country.

If you are making your own arrangements please speak to the Bereavement Support Officer for advice regarding your responsibilities.

You may want to seek help or advice from your minister, priest or religious leader regarding the service.

11

What types of funeral are available?One of the decisions you will have to make is to choose between cremation and burial.

Burial Most cemeteries are owned either by local authorities or private companies. Many churchyards are no longer open for burials because there is no space left. A charge will be made for a burial plot and this will vary. If a space has been pre-paid for in a cemetery, you will need to produce the relevant Deed of Grant.

CremationNo one can be cremated until the cause of death is definitely known. There are certain forms which you must sign. The funeral director will explain these to you.

Local authorities set the costs charged by the crematorium. The ashes will be offered to you. Some people like to scatter the ashes in a garden of remembrance or a place that holds special memories for them. They can also be buried in a churchyard or cemetery. You may need to seek the advice of your funeral director regarding permission to scatter or bury the ashes in certain areas.

12

Who do I need to inform of the death?If you used the “Tell Us Once” service at the time you registered the death you may have already informed many government departments and local council services of the death. However; there are various people and companies, as well as other interested parties, who need to be informed. The following list gives some, but not all of them:

• local Social Services department if meals on wheels, home help, day centre transport were used any hospital the person was attending

• GP (family doctor)• local Inland Revenue (tax) office• local Job Centre Plus office to cancel pension, allowances,

benefits etc• any employer or trade union• car insurance company. People driving a car insured in the

deceased persons name are not legally insured.• Utility service providers (gas, electricity, telephone, etc)• banks and building societies• mortgage lender or landlord if the deceased person was

living in rented property• insurance companies• local Housing Department if the deceased person was

receiving housing benefit or council tax benefit• a child’s or young person’s teacher, employer or college

should be informed if a member of the immediate family or close friend has died

• National Savings Office and other organisations with which the deceased person has investments

13

The deceased person’s passport, driving licence, car registration documents, membership cards and national insurance papers must all be returned to the relevant offices.

Check for any library books which may need returning, and also whether there was any NHS or Social Services equipment on loan. This should be returned to the suppliers, for example, hospital, health centre, Social Services or Red Cross.

You can hand in any unused medication to your local pharmacist.

14

What if I find it difficult to cope with my grief?When someone close to you dies you will have to come to terms emotionally with the death, as well as having to deal with the practical issues. This will not be easy, and will certainly take time. You may have mood changes, times when you want to be alone and times when you need company.

As individuals, our culture and spiritual beliefs mean we react to death in different ways. Some people accept their grief quickly and others take a long time. Some find it easy to talk about the person who has died, sharing the good and the bad times, others find this difficult.

It can be hard to accept the loss. This means you may find yourself trying hard to deny the death has occurred. It is not unusual to think you have heard or seen the deceased person. Many people feel stressed and physically run down, finding it difficult to eat or sleep.

You may also experience feelings of self-criticism, guilt, panic, self-pity, anger, and irritability - even with the person who has died. This is a natural reaction to bereavement and is not a sign you are “going mad” or letting your family or friends down. Do not be afraid to share these feelings with a sympathetic listener.

You may find yourself feeling hurt, perhaps convinced that some of your family or friends are avoiding you. Unfortunately, this often happens and is probably due to their embarrassment, as they do not know what to say. You may have to take the first step, so let them know that you would like to talk about your loved one and need their support.

The hospital Chaplains are always available to talk to you about your loss or your own Minister of Religion can be contacted if you prefer.

15

If you find things are becoming too much to cope with we would advise you visit your GP.

The Bereavement Support Officer can provide you with a list of various local and national organisations who offer bereavement support both practically and emotionally.

Supporting children who are grievingAt a time when you are experiencing your own grief at the death of a partner, child, other family member or friend, it can seem overwhelming to offer support to your child or children. Remember, you can only do your best. There are several charities aimed at helping you support yourself and your children through this difficult time. The Bereavement Support Officer can provide you with a list of organisations who can offer such support and advice.

Contact Numbers• Bereavement Support Officers University Hospital of North Tees University Hospital of Hartlepool telephone: 01642 383286 telephone: 01429 522042

• Chaplains University Hospital of North Tees University Hospital of Hartlepool telephone: 01642 383138 telephone: 01429 522776

16

Funeral Director Transfer of Care Certificate

Name of deceased: .............................................................................................

Date of birth: ........................................................................................................

Address: ..............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................

Print name (BLOCK CAPITALS) I, .............................................................................

registered /will be registering the death of the deceased and hereby authorise:

Funeral Director: ..................................................................................................

Address: ..............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................

to transfer into their care the body of the deceased from the mortuary.

Signature: ........................................................ Date: .......................................

Print name: ..........................................................................................................(BLOCK CAPITALS)

Relationship to deceased: ...................................................................................

Please complete this certificate and hand it to your chosen funeral director. This enables them to transfer the body of the deceased into their care.

Corp/119.6

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

NHS

17

Notes

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

18

19

Feedback welcomeWe appreciate this a diffcult time for you right now, so you may wish to complete this at a later date, but your feedback is always welcome and helps us to provide the best service we can.

• On which ward was your relative/friend cared for prior to their death? ...............................................................................................................................................

• Was the support and information you received during your bereavement helpful? Yes / No

• What did we do well? ...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

• Is there anything we could improve on?

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

• Was this booklet helpful? Yes / No

• Is there any other information you feel should be included?

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

• Would you be willing to complete a more indepth questionnaire regarding your recent experiences surrounding end of life care?

Yes / No

If yes please provide your name and address below:

Name: ..................................................................................................................................

Address: .............................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this. Please send this form to:Bereavement and Mortuary Services Department, University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick Road, Stockton-On-Tees, TS19 8PE

Notes

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

20

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Quality Assurance Team, University Hospital of North Tees or email: patientinformation@nth.nhs.uk.

Comments, Concerns, Compliments or Complaints

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide.

We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve; that’s why the Patient Experience Team is here to help.

Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

telephone: 01642 624719Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 4.00pm

Messages can be left on the answering machine and will be picked up throughout the day.

freephone: 0800 092 0084Mobile (can use text): 0779 506 1883Email: patientexperience@nth.nhs.uk

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person:

telephone: 01642 61761724 hours a day, 7 days a week

The Patient Experience Team is available to discuss your concerns in person Monday – Friday, 1.30pm – 4.30pm.

Data Protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed a Data Protection Policy in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect this policy and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information please contact the Head of Communications.

telephone: 01642 624339 or www.dataprotection.gov.uk

21

University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton-on-Tees. TS19 8PEUniversity Hospital of Hartlepool, Holdforth Road, Hartlepool. TS24 9AH

Telephone: 01642 617617 Fax: 01642 624089

Corp/119.6 (2014) For Review Spring 2017

Notes

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

22

Notes

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

23

Published by Patient Matters © Tel: 01253 766639 R0