Telephone your family doctor, who will visit to confirm that their patient has died. In the case of a nursing home, the staff will arrange for the doctor to visit.

When the doctor has established the cause of death, they will normally issue the medical certificate of death. In some cases you may be asked to collect the certificate from the surgery. Thereafter, contact your Funeral Director immediately who will arrange a suitable time, day or night, to visit you.
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The sister or staff nurse will see you and arrange for a doctor to issue the medical certificate of death. You will need to collect this and any belongings. If possible, you should advise the hospital if the funeral is to be a cremation, as this will allow them time to arrange for the necessary extra documentation to be completed. Thereafter contact your Funeral Director who will arrange a suitable time, day, or night to visit you.
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It is normal for the Coroner to be involved in this instance. Whilst there is no need to be concerned by this, the procedures however, are somewhat different.

The Coroner is represented by the Coroner’s Officer whose main role is to liase between the Coroner, the Funeral Director and yourself. They will either be a Police Officer or a civilian appointed by the Coroner. Both the Coroner’s Officer and your Funeral Director are there to offer advice and guidance. Contact your Funeral Director as soon as possible, so they can liaise with the Coroner’s Officer on your behalf.

The Funeral Director will ask where you would like the person who has died to rest before the funeral. This can be at home or at the funeral directors. If you choose home, we recommend that you still allow the director to take them to our premises, to be returned home at a later time when all necessary care and attention has been completed. You will also need to consider if any jewellery or belongings are to remain with the deceased or if they are to be returned to you.
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The decision of whether or not anyone wishes to see the person who has died is a personal one and consideration may need to be given who among family and friends may wish to see them. Many people take comfort from visiting the chapel of rest.
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