When someone dies at Home
A Death at Home also covers Nursing/Care/Residential Home or a Hospice
When someone dies and the death is expected, the first thing is to ensure that a medical professional is willing to complete the medical cause of death certificate.
(If the death occurs in a Nursing/Care Home or Hospice, the duty staff will help with the following steps)
This may be via the usual, or on-call GP, a Hospice or community nurse.
Once you are given the go-ahead by the medical professional
and only when you are ready, please call, or ask the duty staff to call 01329600050 (24/7)
and we can attend to bring the person who has died into our care.
We have a private chapel of rest at our premises.
The medical cause of death certificate is usually available the following working day for you to collect.
The GP surgery/Nursing Home/Hospice can advise you where this is to be collected from,
you will need this form for registration.
Please inform the medical professional whether the funeral is to be a cremation.
Additional forms will need to be prepared by the Doctor.
When someone dies in Hospital
Based on Procedures outlined by Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham
Please be advised that different Hospital procedures may apply.
If the death is expected, you will be required to telephone QA Hospital Bereavement Services
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Tel: 02392286175
You may not be able to speak to a bereavement officer straight away, but please leave them a message and they will return your call as soon as all the relevant paperwork is in place.
Please inform the bereavement officer if the funeral will be a cremation, so that additional paperwork can also be prepared.
The bereavement officer will telephone you to book an appointment to issue the medical cause of death certificate, which you take to the register office.
IMPORTANT
A Hospital Clearance Release Form will be issued to you
You will be asked to sign this. it is important that your chosen funeral director is given this as soon as possible
PLEASE NOTE:
We will not be able to attend the hospital unless a form has been supplied.
We are only permitted to attend the Hospital during their
usual opening hours. (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
TO CONFIRM:
Please produce the clearance form to your chosen funeral director as soon as possible.
Failure to attend the hospital before the date shown on the form will incur additional charges.
Any additional charge(s) incurred will not be passed on to you.
As a death within Queen Alexandra Hospital occurred within the City of Portsmouth, you will need to telephone the register office located in Burnaby Road.
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: 02392829041
DO NOT make an appointment to register until you have the medical cause of death certificate
(or if there is Coroner involvement, the Coroner's Officer has instructed you to do so)
Registering a Death
Registrar Contact Details
If the death occurred within
and you have obtained the medical cause of death certificate
or Coroner's instruction
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: 03005551392
If the death occurred within the
and you have obtained the medical cause of death certificate
or Coroner's instruction
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: 02392829041
If the death occurred within the
and you have obtained the medical cause of death certificate
or Coroner's instruction
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: 02380915327
PLEASE DO NOT make an appointment to register until you have the
medical cause of death certificate, or the Coroner's office has instructed you to do so
Registration & Certificates
What information does the Registrar need?
- Full Name(s) of deceased
- Date & Place of Birth
- Date & Place of Death
- Marital Status
- Previous Occupation (if Male)
- Spouse's Name(s) and previous occupation (if Married)
- Maiden Name (if a Married Female)
What forms will the Registrar give me, how much do they cost?
The registrar will issue a 'Certificate for Burial or Cremation'
This form is FREE and is bright green in colour.
You will need to provide this to your chosen funeral director once the form is obtained.
You will also be able to purchase Certified Copies of the Entry
This is often referred to as the ’death certificate’ as they currently cost £11.00 to buy.
The Coroner is involved, what will happen now?
Why the Coroner gets involved
If the death is sudden, or unexpected, it is more than likely that the HM Coroner will need to be informed.
If the death occurs at home, and the usual/on call doctor is not able to issue the medical cause
of death certificate, It is likely that the Police will be asked to attend the address.
The reason for referral can be because of something as simple as the person who has died has not been to visit their GP (not treating, or attending to any illness) in the past 14 days
There will be a Duty Funeral Director who is employed by HM Coroner to collect the person who has died. You do not need to worry unnecessarily if the police are in attendance, they are also working on behalf of HM Coroner’s Office.
The Coroner's involvement also doesn't necessarily mean there will be a Post Mortem examination.
You will be kept fully informed by the Officer who will be looking after you.
PLEASE NOTE: It can take up to five working days for any examinations & paperwork to be completed.
Be Aware: you are not obliged to use the Funeral Director contracted by HM Coroner.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE YOUR FUNERAL DIRECTOR
CONTACT DETAILS FOR HM CORONER:
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
Mr D Horsley, 1 Guildhall Square, Portsmouth PO1 2AJ
Tel: 02392688326
email: coroners.office@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Central Southampton & The New Forest
Mr G A Short, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UL
Tel: 01962667884