What to do first
The death of a loved one can be a very distressing and troubling time, and it can be hard to know what to do next. This page aims to guide you through the necessary steps that will have to be made after someone close passes away and explain the administrative procedures involved.
If the death has occurred in a private residence, you must contact the person’s GP or the out-of-hours service. If the death occurs in a nursing home or hospice, generally, the staff will summon a Doctor or other qualified person on your behalf. In both instances, if practical, this should be the Doctor that looked after the person during their last illness.
(N.B. If the doctor or qualified person who certifies death is not the patient’s normal Doctor, the necessary documentation will need to be ordered from their normal Doctors surgery)
The Doctor will issue the following documentation:
- A Medical Certificate that states the cause of death
- A Formal Notice that states that the Doctor has signed the Medical Certificate and informs you how to register the death.
- A Medical Certificate that states the cause of death
- A Formal Notice that states that the Doctor has signed the Medical Certificate and informs you how to register the death.
Once the doctor or other qualified person has attended to certify the death, call us so we can attend and bring your loved one into our care.
