In Times of Bereavement
Introduction
At Gnosall Surgery we believe that all bereaved people are entitled to a service that responds to, and respects, their basic needs at such a difficult time.
Your GP undertakes to:
- Ensure prompt completion of all death administration paperwork
- Fully explain the details written on the Death Certificate to the next of kin where that is desired.
We will support you if you need health care advice in the months after you have lost a close relative or friend.
If Death Occurs At Home
- Telephone the doctor who will visit to confirm that death has taken place.
- Contact a funeral director.
- Arrange to collect the doctor's Medical Certificate of Death (usually from the surgery).
- 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.
- The Registrar will normally issue a certificate for you to give to your funeral director who will look after necessary arrangements for the funeral. The Registrar will also issue a notification certificate for the Department of Social Security (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
- Contact a funeral director to inform him his services are required.
- Collect the certificate from the hospital then follow steps 4 to 5 as above