PROCESSES WHEN A DEALTH OCCURS

If Death Occurs At Home

1. If the death is not anticipated by a GP or yourself then the ambulance service should be called.
2. Telephone the doctor who will visit to confirm that death has taken place.
3. Contact a funeral director.
4. Arrange to collect the doctor's Medical Certificate of Death (usually from the surgery).
5. Take this to the Registrars Office, (together with the deceased's Medical Card and Birth Certificate, if available) for the area in which the death took place. Alternatively you can register by declaration at any convenient Registrars Office but certificates will not be available as these will have to be posted to you a few days later.
6. The Registrar will normally issue a Green coloured certificate for you to give to your funeral director who will look after necessary arrangements for the funeral. The Registrar will also issue a white notification certificate for the DSS. They will also enquire as to the number of Certified Copies you require for dealing with the deceased finances (a fee is payable for each copy).

 

If The Death Occurs In Hospital

1. Contact a funeral director to inform him his services are required.

2. Collect the certificate from the hospital then follow 4 - 5 as above

 

Note For Cremation

Your funeral director will usually liaise directly with the surgery regarding the additional certification required.

 

Further Support

CRUSE bereavement care

Cruse Bereavement Care is there to support you after the death of someone close. If someone you know has died and you need to talk, call their team on 0844 477 9400 or send an email to: helpline@cruse.org.uk

Face-to-face and group support is delivered by trained bereavement support volunteers across the UK.

CRUSE also offer information, publications and support for children

 

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide: (SOBS)

The meetings will be held on the 1st Thursday evening of each month. For further information, please email Hannah or Barbara at sobs.winchester@gmail.com or telephone on 07763 644310.

Meetings are only for those over 18 years as there are other specialist charities for children. The group asks that anyone wishing to attend contacts them before coming to a meeting so they are able answer any specific questions.

The Winchester group is part of the national charity Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide which has support groups through the UK.

The above Support Group/meeting is held in Winchester, but this is the closest group to the area and for our patients to access, should they wish to do so.