…At Home

If the death occurs at home, the GP should be contacted at once to certify the death. If the death was expected, the GP will complete the Medical Cause of Death Certificate. This is required by the Registrar when registering the death. If the funeral is to be a cremation, it would be helpful to notify the GP at this time. The Doctor will need to complete a separate form for the crematorium and arrange for a second Doctor to complete another. For this both Doctors will require a fee which we will pay on your behalf. If a decision has not been made at that time, do not worry. We will arrange for the GP to complete the necessary paperwork. Once the GP has certified death, it is now advisable to telephone us when we will be able to arrange a convenient time to remove the deceased to our Private Chapel of Rest

….In a Nursing Home

If the death occurs in a Nursing Home, the nursing staff will contact the GP. They will also contact the next of kin to inform them of the death. If this is you, they will ask you if you have a preference for a Funeral Director.

If our services are required, you or the nursing staff should contact our office to arrange for the deceased to be taken to our Private Chapel of Rest. If you know at this time whether the funeral is to be a cremation, please let the nursing staff know; they will inform the Doctor, who will need to complete a separate form for the crematorium and arrange for a second Doctor to complete another. For this both Doctors will require a fee, which we will pay on your behalf.

The Medical Cause of Death Certificate may be left with the nursing staff for you to collect. The Registrar will require this certificate when you, or a nominated representative, register the death. When convenient, contact us to arrange a time for us to visit you in your home to make the funeral arrangements, or for you to attend our office

….In A Hospital

If the death occurs in a hospital, the nursing staff will contact the next of kin to inform them of the death. If this is you, you will be asked to visit the hospital and meet the Bereavement Officer. You will be given the Medical Cause of Death Certificate which will be required in order to register the death. You may also be given a Mortuary Release Form — this is required by us when we attend the hospital to collect the deceased to take to our Private Chapel of Rest.

If you know at this time that the funeral is to be a cremation, please let the Bereavement Officer know. He/she will then arrange for two Doctors to complete additional medical forms for the crematorium. A fee is required for both Doctors, which we will pay on your behalf.

When convenient, telephone our office to arrange a time when we can visit you in your own home or for you to visit our office in order to make the funeral arrangements.

…Suddenly or as a result of an accident

If the death occurs at home and is sudden or unexpected, contact the doctor who will confirm the death and then contact the Coroner. The Coroner will need to investigate the death and may request a Post Mortem to be performed. A Police Officer will attend on behalf of the Coroner. They will ask if you have a preference for Funeral Director; if not the duty Funeral Director will be called. Please remember that the duty Funeral Director will be acting on behalf of the Coroner at this time. The final choice of Funeral Director to make and carry out the funeral arrangements is yours. Contact them as soon as possible for further advice.

In due course, a Coroner’s Officer will contact you to explain the Coroner’s procedures. He/she will also need to know if the funeral is to be a burial or cremation and the name of the Funeral Directors who will be making and carrying out the funeral arrangements. This will help the Coroner issue the correct certificates for the funeral to proceed.

If the death is due to a Road Traffic incident or any other incident, the police will arrange for the deceased to be taken to the Coroner’s mortuary. The Coroner as well as the police will need to investigate the death. A Coroner’s Officer or Police Officer will explain the procedures to you and keep you informed at all times. Although the funeral arrangements cannot be confirmed until the Coroner and/or Police have completed their initial investigations, there is nothing prohibiting you from contacting our office to start making provisional arrangements.