Bereavement

We are so sorry for the loss of your loved one. When someone dies, there are many decisions and arrangements that need to be made. The arrangements can be overwhelming, so we have made this page to give you some help and guidance about what to do, and to help you in your bereavement, especially in the difficult days immediately afterwards.

What to do after a death

After a death occurs, several legal and medical steps must take place before the death can be formally registered. Many of these steps now happen automatically behind the scenes, and you will be guided through the process.

You do not usually need to attend the GP practice to collect paperwork.

The Medical Examiner & Death Certification Process

What is a Medical Examiner?

A Medical Examiner (ME) is a senior NHS doctor who was not involved in the person’s care. Their role is to independently review every death in England to ensure that:

The cause of death is accurate and appropriate
The death has been correctly and lawfully certified
Families have an opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns

This process is routine and applies to almost all deaths.

What is the Medical Examiner Office (MEO)?

The Medical Examiner Office (MEO) supports the Medical Examiner and coordinates this process. The team works independently from GP practices and hospitals.

The MEO may contact the next of kin to help explain the process and answer questions.

What happens after a death?

1. Notification of the death

The death is reported by the hospital, GP practice, care home, or another healthcare professional.

2. Issuing the Death Certificate

The Death Certificate (officially called MCCD – Medical Certificate of Cause of Death) is completed by either the GP (if the person dies in the community) or by the hospital, this process can sometimes take a few days. This is then sent electronically to the Medical Examiner (ME) – you do not need to collect the certificate from the GP practice.

The Medical Examiner then:

Reviews relevant medical records
Considers the circumstances leading up to the death
Reviews the proposed cause of death

The ME will then either agree and proceed to complete the MCCD, or notify the coroner if the cause of death is not agreed.

3. Contact with the bereaved family

A member of the Medical Examiner Office may contact you to:

Explain the cause of death in plain language
Check whether you have any questions or concerns
Ask if anything about the death feels unexpected or unclear

This contact is not an investigation and does not suggest that something has gone wrong.

4. Registering the death

Once the MCCD is complete, the certificate is sent electronically to the Register Office – you do not need to collect the certificate.

The Register Office will advise you on how to formally register the death – usually, this must be done within 5 days of the Register Office receiving the MCCD (unless it has been referred to a coroner). This includes weekends and bank holidays.

Only once the death is registered, funeral arrangements can proceed.

Please see the link below for more information of what information is required and who can register a death:

https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/register-death

Will this cause delays?

In most cases, no.

The Medical Examiner process usually runs alongside existing arrangements and should not delay registration or funeral planning. If additional information is needed, this will be explained clearly.

When is the Coroner involved?

Some deaths must be referred to the Coroner by law, for example if:

The cause of death is unclear
The death was sudden or unexpected
The death followed an accident or injury

If a referral is required:

The Coroner will decide the next steps

The Medical Examiner or MEO will explain why

Can I raise concerns?

Yes. The Medical Examiner system exists to ensure families are heard.

You can:

Ask questions about the cause of death
Request clarification in plain language
Raise concerns if something does not feel right

Raising concerns will not delay funeral arrangements.

Do I need to contact the GP practice?

Usually, no.

We receive notification of the death automatically usually, and the process outlined above will begin.

If you are unsure who to contact, our practice team can help signpost you.

Arranging a funeral

You can contact a Funeral Director as soon as you are ready to discuss the funeral arrangements. However, in the person died in the community, you will need to get the death verified by the person’s GP (or out of hours service) first. You do not have to wait for the MCCD.

After you have registered the death, you’ll get a certificate for burial or cremation (often called ‘the green form’). Give the certificate to your funeral director, crematorium or burial authority. You must do this before the funeral can take place. The Funeral Director can help you make all the arrangements for the funeral and the burial or cremation.

Funeral costs

Costs for the same services may vary considerably from one funeral director to another. You may wish to get more than one quote to compare costs. “Disbursements” are fees paid to others e.g. for crematorium, minister, newspaper announcements, flowers etc. Ask the funeral director for a written quotation detailing all the fees. Funeral payments are normally recoverable from the deceased’s estate.

If you arrange a funeral, you are responsible for paying the bill, so check where the money will come from first. If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral you have to arrange, you may be able to get help if you meet certain criteria. For more info, see the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/eligibility

Tell the Government about the death

The Tell Us Once service allows you to inform all the relevant government departments when someone dies.

A registrar will explain the ‘Tell Us Once’ service when you register the death. They will either complete the ‘Tell us Once’ service with you or give you a unique reference so you can use the service yourself online or by phone.

https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once

Grief after bereavement or loss

Most people experience grief when they lose something or someone important to them. If these feelings are affecting your life, there are things you can try that may help. Please see the link below for further advice and guidance.

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/grief-bereavement-loss/

We can all react in different ways to grief. Grief is as individual as we are. Sometimes there can be feelings of total numbness, it can be very difficult to take in the fact someone has died. There can be feelings of unreality, anxiety and panic. After the funeral, you may feel several different emotions: powerful feelings of isolation, loneliness and despair, which can occur at any time. Physically, people can feel run down or might find it difficult to eat and sleep. Feelings need not be hidden; they can be shared if you want, with a sympathetic listener. It is important to allow yourself to grieve in your own time.

If you’re struggling to cope with stress, anxiety or low mood and things you’re trying yourself aren’t helping, please contact us via a Klinik form and a clinician will arrange an appointment via telephone or face-to-face. If you are unable to complete the form online, please call the surgery and we can help you complete the form over the phone

https://access.klinik.co.uk/contact/st-levan-surgery

Stop unwanted junk mail

Sign up to The Bereavement Register at https://www.thebereavementregister.org.uk/ for free and they will remove the names and addresses of the deceased from mailing lists to stop most advertising mail within 6 weeks

Resources for bereavement

Please see below for some resources that may be helpful

Citizens Advice Plymouth

Tel: 0808 278 7910

https://citizensadviceplymouth.org.uk/

Jeremiah’s Journey (for children and families affected by grief)

Tel: 01752 424348

https://jeremiahsjourney.org.uk/

St Luke’s Bereavement Services

Phone: 01752 964200

www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk

Bereavement Advice Centre