Guiding you through bereavement

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Todd McBride
5 years ago
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1 Guiding you through bereavement

2 Welcome Compass is a bereavement service in Merton created in 2015 by Wimbledon Guild in association with the NHS. Our service offers a personal approach to helping you with support and information should you be recently bereaved or perhaps planning for the future. Compass supports you during what may be the most difficult and stressful time of your life. We are here to guide you through bereavement. For further copies of this brochure please call or info@compassbereavement.org.uk To view this information online please visit us now at info@compassbereavement.org.uk

Contents 04 07 12 15 17 19 What to do when a person dies - At home - In hospital - In a care home - When a baby dies in stillbirth - Organ and body donation Registering a death - Who can register a

3 Contents What to do when a person dies - At home - In hospital - In a care home - When a baby dies in stillbirth - Organ and body donation Registering a death - Who can register a death? - Documents and information you will need to register a death - Documents you will be given - The Tell Us Once service - Checklist who to tell About the Coroner - The Coroner s officers - Reporting a death to a Coroner - Once the death is reported to the Coroner - Post mortem - What happens at an inquest - The possible verdicts given at an inquest Arranging the funeral - With the help of a funeral director - DIY, alternative and green funerals - Funeral costs After the funeral - Interment - Scattering of ashes Pets Wills and probate Call us now on

4 What to do when a person dies The loss of someone close, whether you have been anticipating the news or it has come unexpectedly, will no doubt be a shock. A death can leave us feeling vulnerable, numb and fearful for the future. If you are the person responsible for reporting the death you may feel overwhelmed by the sad situation you find yourself in. Rest assured, there is help at hand. Compass can help smooth the path ahead to ensure the process is handled professionally and with compassion. If a death occurs at home Contact your GP If a death occurs out of surgery hours, dial 111 to contact NHS 111. In most cases the GP will attend and give you a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) showing the cause of death, along with a formal notice that states they have signed the certificate. This will also explain how to register the death with the Registrar. There are some circumstances where the certificate cannot be issued, these include: if the death was sudden, violent or accidental if the cause of death is uncertain if the deceased had not been seen by a doctor during their last illness or within 14 days prior to death if death was caused by an industrial disease. If any of these apply your GP may report the death to the Coroner. A post mortem may then have to be arranged and in some circumstances an inquest may also need to be held. If the matter has been referred to the Coroner, it is likely that your loved one will be collected by the coroner s service. They will then be taken to the coroner s storage facility. Should the death be expected then your loved one can be collected by your appointed funeral director. 04 us now at info@compassbereavement.org.uk

When to contact the police Only if the death occurred in suspicious circumstances or there was an accident or violence. In these instances the death would automatically be referred to the Coroner.

The medical certificate will be issued by the hospital doctor unless the coroner s office needs to be involved.

5 When to contact the police Only if the death occurred in suspicious circumstances or there was an accident or violence. In these instances the death would automatically be referred to the Coroner. If a death occurs in hospital You will be contacted by the medical team if you were not present at the death. The medical certificate will be issued by the hospital doctor unless the coroner s office needs to be involved. Your funeral director or coroner s service will then move your loved one to their chapel of rest or storage facility. The hospital bereavement service can arrange for you to spend time with your loved one. If necessary they will liaise with the Coroner and they will help you register the death with a local registrar. If a death occurs at a care home If your loved one dies in a residential care home or nursing home, you will be contacted by the medical team. Your loved one may be moved to a different room, for a short period, so you can spend some time with them. The care home may have an arrangement with a local funeral director to move your loved one to their chapel of rest. You are under no obligation to use this funeral director and are free to choose an alternative. Prices vary widely throughout the funeral industry and it is a good idea to compare funeral directors costs to make sure you get the service you want. Contact Compass if you would like help with this. Call us now on

6 When a baby dies in stillbirth A stillbirth is required to be registered within 42 days. Your midwife, medical team or the register office, will explain who can register the stillbirth, when you can do so and what you will need to take with you when you go to the register office. For information on specialist emotional and practical support services, please get in touch with Compass. Organ and body donation Human bodies can be donated to medical science to help teaching hospitals develop the skills of students, surgeons and pathologists. Let the GP or medical team know if your loved one has signed consent to donate their body to medical science. Researchers use human tissue to explore how diseases begin and develop and understand how the body works. Organs can be donated for transplant to treat those whose organs have failed. If your loved one expressed a wish to donate their organs for research or transplant and carried an Organ Donor Card, please inform the medical team as soon as possible. For more information about transferring the body to medical research please contact the Human Tissue Authority at or call us now at info@compassbereavement.org.uk

7 Registering a death You are required to register a death within five days unless it has been referred to the Coroner. You can do this if you are a relative, were present at the death or are arranging the funeral. You will need to make an appointment, usually at the register office in the area in which the person died. It will take around half an hour to register the death. If you cannot make it to the register office in the area where the death occurred, you can choose another, this is called Registry by Proxy. To make an appointment between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday please call Merton Register Office on Please note on the third Thursday of each month opening hours are 9am to 12.40pm. If a death occurs in hospital it can be registered there. Please ask the hospital bereavement service to assist you with this. If Merton is not the local register office, or you are unsure of what to do, please ask Compass and we ll help you to find the office closest to you. Who can register a death? A death can be registered by: a relative someone present at the death an occupant of the house (e.g. care home manager) hospital official the person making arrangements with funeral directors. When registering a death you will be asked for your relationship to the person who has died and your full name and address. Further details about the information that is needed about the deceased are given on the envelope which contains the medical certificate. Call us now on

8 Documents and information you will need to register a death Once you have checked that you are able to register the death, you will need to take the following with you to the appointment: The medical certificate giving the cause of death, which has been signed by a doctor. If a post mortem is necessary then the relevant paperwork will be sent direct to the registrar. And also, if possible, details of the person who has died: birth certificate marriage/civil partnership certificates NHS medical card. The registrar will need to know: the deceased person s full name at the time of death the date of death any previous names, including maiden name deceased s date and place of birth their last address their occupation the full name, date of birth and occupation of their spouse or partner whether they were receiving state benefits or pension date of birth and occupation of parents, if a child has died. Documents that you will be given The registrar will issue you with the following, unless a post mortem is being held: A Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8). The death certificate is a certified copy of what is written in the death register and will be needed for the Will and any claims to pensions or savings. A Certificate for Burial or Cremation (a green form) which gives permission for an application for cremation to be made or giving permission for the body to be buried. You give this to the funeral director. The registrar can give you extra certificates that you may need for the Will, pension claims, bank, etc. These must be paid for. Photocopies will not be accepted and if you apply for extra copies later they will cost more. 08 us now at info@compassbereavement.org.uk

9 The Tell Us Once service This is a free service which alerts most government departments about your loved one s death. The registrar will give you a unique reference number, which will be valid for 28 days, allowing you to access Tell Us Once by telephone or online. You will need the following information about the person who has died: date of birth National Insurance number passport number driving licence number details of any benefits they were receiving details of any local council services, such as Blue Badge parking name and address of next of kin details of the person or company dealing with their estate. Tell Us Once will contact the following departments on your behalf: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for tax and benefits Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to cancel any benefits Passport Office in order to cancel their passport Merton Council to cancel housing benefit, council tax benefit, a Blue Badge; to inform local housing services and to remove them from the electoral register Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to cancel their driving licence. Call us now on

10 Checklist When someone dies there are many organisations and people that will need to know about the death. You may find this checklist useful to help ensure that you make the necessary arrangements, please note some of these may be covered by the Tells Us Once scheme, should you choose to use it: Accountant Bank The Benefits Agency Building society Bereavement Register (to remove a name from mailing lists ( Children s school or childcare provider Car insurance Child Benefit Office Council tax Credit card companies Clubs or social groups Church or place of worship Creditors (anyone owed money by the deceased) Debtor (anyone owing money to the deceased) Dentist Disabled parking permit DVLA (cancel driving licence and car tax) Employers GP Hospital clinics Hire purchase/loan companies Home help agency Insurance companies (including home and car insurance) Internet provider Income tax office Landlord or local housing department Library (return books) Life assurance Mortgage company Motor breakdown policy provider National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office National Savings and Investments (Premium Bonds) NHS equipment (wheelchairs, hearing aids) Passport Office Pension providers Post Office to redirect mail Private health care provider Professional bodies Probate Office Relatives and friends Social Services Solicitor Trade union Telephone provider (mobile and landline) Utilities (gas, electricity, water) 10 us now at info@compassbereavement.org.uk

11 Sharing your loss and how you feel can help ease the pain and lessen the burden Call us now on

12 About the Coroner The Coroner is an independent judicial officer appointed by the local authority. A GP may report the death to a Coroner if the: cause of death is unknown death was violent or unnatural death was sudden and unexplained person who died was not visited by a medical practitioner during their final illness medical certificate isn t available person who died wasn t seen by the doctor who signed the medical certificate within 14 days before death or after they died death occurred during an operation or before the person came out of anaesthetic medical certificate suggests the death may have been caused by an industrial disease or industrial poisoning. Following the Coroner s enquiries there may be a requirement for an inquest. The Coroner s officers The Coroner s officers receive reports of deaths and make enquiries under the direction of the Coroner and on behalf of the Coroner. They liaise with police, bereaved families, doctors, witnesses and funeral directors. Reporting a death to a Coroner Not every death is reported to the Coroner. A medical certificate is usually issued by the deceased s doctor or the hospital doctor who treated them during their last illness. The registrar of births and deaths cannot register the death until the Coroner s enquiries have been completed. This may take some time and so it is advisable to check with the coroner s office how this is progressing before making funeral arrangements. However in most cases the decision to investigate will not hold up funeral arrangements. 12 us now at info@compassbereavement.org.uk

I contacted Compass as I was worried about being an executor at a time when I was trying to deal with my loss. They were supportive and that really helped me get through it all.

13 I contacted Compass as I was worried about being an executor at a time when I was trying to deal with my loss. They were supportive and that really helped me get through it all. Once the death is reported to the Coroner If the Coroner considers the cause of death to be natural then there will be no need for a post mortem or inquest. The Coroner may ask a pathologist to examine the body and carry out a post mortem, which must be done as soon as possible. Post mortem A post mortem is carried out by a pathologist to establish the cause of death. The family and next of kin does not have to give consent for a post mortem but the Coroner does have to inform the deceased s relatives and anyone else with an interest in the death where and when it will take place. Anyone with an interest in the outcome of the post mortem, the family, the police or deceased s doctor, can be represented by a doctor of their choice. There may be a fee for this. Wherever possible Coroners are sensitive to religious and cultural beliefs and requirements. Call us now on

14 What happens at an inquest Put simply an inquest establishes the facts about the death. It will seek to find out who has died, when, where and how the death occurred. An inquest must be held if: the cause of death is unknown there is a suspicion that the death was violent or unnatural death was a result of an industrial disease the person died in police custody, was in prison or was detained under the Mental Health Act at the time of their death. While this process is ongoing the death cannot be registered, however a Certificate of Fact of Death can be issued by the Coroner and can be used to help with the administration of the deceased s estate. This should be acceptable to banks and financial institutions. The only exception may be if they need to know the outcome of the inquest before agreeing financial settlement. The registrar of births and deaths will be notified once the inquest has been completed allowing the death to be registered. Please note that most inquests take place without a jury. The exceptions to this are: if the death resulted in an accident at work if the death resulted from the act or omission of a police officer if the death occurred in police custody or prison. The possible verdicts given at an inquest The verdicts can include the following: natural causes suicide unlawful killing accident or misadventure lawful killing road traffic collision drug or alcohol related death industrial disease open verdict, where there is no evidence for any of the other verdicts. There is one further outcome, a narrative verdict. Here the Coroner will set out the facts surrounding the death in detail and explain the reasons for the decision. For more information about the service that the coroner s office provides please contact Wandsworth & Merton Coroners Office on Call us now on

15 Arranging the funeral With the help of a funeral director Your funeral director will be able to provide you with all the guidance, information and support that you need to make the arrangements as soon as you feel able. If the death of your loved one has been referred to the Coroner this may delay the date when the funeral can take place. It is important to check whether your loved one s Will outlines their wishes for the funeral. You should also check whether the funeral arrangements have already been made or even paid for in advance. The Will may also state who should make those arrangements, but if not and you are the next of kin you may want to plan the funeral. There are a number of decisions to be made once you are aware of your loved one s wishes, they are: which funeral director to use whether burial or cremation is preferred where the funeral will take place where the body will rest until the day of the funeral. If cremation is chosen, you will be given two certificates signed by different doctors. There will be a charge for this. It is also important to consider: whether you wish a funeral service. It is your choice where the service will take place and who conducts it whether you wish flowers or donations to charity if you choose a funeral service, relatives and close friends will help you to make choices about readings and music. us now at info@compassbereavement.org.uk 15

16 DIY, alternative and green funerals These types of funerals are becoming more popular. If you would like to hold a funeral without or with limited involvement of a funeral director, or if you would like to know more about alternative or green funerals, contact Compass for more information. Funeral costs If you are concerned about the cost of arranging a funeral Compass can help by putting you in touch with a service which will negotiate with a number of funeral directors on your behalf. From the information they provide, you can then choose the funeral director that will meet your needs in terms of service and cost. If you would like to find out about bereavement benefits, including the Funeral Payment, contact Compass for more information. 16 Call us now on

17 After the funeral There may have been wishes in the Will for dispersal of your loved one s ashes. If not you might want to discuss and decide what to do with their relatives and friends. Cremated remains are most commonly available the day after the cremation and you will be offered a choice of container. If you choose to collect your loved one s ashes from the crematorium yourself, you will need to provide proof of who you are, otherwise the ashes are usually given to your chosen funeral director along with a Certificate of Cremation. This is a legal document showing the name of the deceased, the date of cremation and where it took place. If your loved one did not express a preference between scattering their ashes or having them interred it is up to relatives to make this decision. Many crematoria have a Garden of Remembrance for the ashes to be spread or placed in a burial plot. Arrangements can then be made for a memorial plaque or tree planting. There will be a charge related to this. If ashes are not collected some crematoria will keep ashes for up to a month after which they may charge for storage or scatter them in the Garden of Remembrance. There are companies that offer the chance to scatter ashes in a place of special significance. Burial at sea for example has a number of regulations which have to be observed and these firms can advise on how best to achieve the send-off you desire for your loved one. Interment You can inter the ashes in either a churchyard or cemetery with appropriate permission or at designated woodland and green burial sites. Call us now on

Scattering of ashes It is not illegal to scatter ashes on land or in the rivers or lakes though it is important to note that minerals contained in cremated remains can be damaging to the environment.

18 Scattering of ashes It is not illegal to scatter ashes on land or in the rivers or lakes though it is important to note that minerals contained in cremated remains can be damaging to the environment. You should try to avoid sensitive areas and first seek permission of the landowner. The Environment Agency guidelines state ashes should not be spread: within 1km upstream of drinking water close to anglers where water is used for commercial, agricultural or recreational purposes. Non-biodegradable wreaths and plastic bags should not be put in the water. Please also consider who may be close by and the time of day you choose to scatter the ashes. Early morning and dusk are popular times for families to be out and about. You may wish to keep the ashes at home but whatever you choose is a personal matter and will depend on your beliefs and the wishes of your loved one. 18 us now at info@compassbereavement.org.uk

19 Pets Every year thousands of pets are left behind without provision being made for them when their loved one dies. As pets are treated as property in the eyes of the law, provision should have been made for them in the Will so that pets can be looked after in the way their owner wished. Several animal charities can help with caring for a pet or finding a new home for them. The Cinnamon Trust can help with long term care for animals whose owner has died: or The Dogs Trust will work hard to rehome the dog: or If you find yourself responsible for a pet following a bereavement you can contact the RSPCA for advice and support: For bereavement support following the death of a pet contact: Blue Cross Pet Bereavement or Wills and probate If you would like information and guidance relating to Wills and probate, contact Compass and we can support you. Call us now on

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What to do when someone dies

What to do when someone dies Argo Life & Legacy Ltd. Little Chequers Stone Street Petham Kent CT4 5PW T: 01227 700 702 E: info@argolifeandlegacy.co.uk W: www.argolifeandlegacy.co.uk Contents What this