Bereavement

 

 If Death Occurs at Home

  1. Confirming the death

You should contact:

  • The patient’s GP, out-of-hours doctor, or
  • The community nurse/palliative care team (if involved)

A healthcare professional must verify the death. If the death was expected, this is usually straightforward and does not require emergency services.

👉 If the death is unexpected, you should call 999 immediately.

  1. Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)

The GP surgery will arrange for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to be completed.

  • The case is reviewed through the Medical Examiner service, which provides independent oversight of the cause of death.
  • Once agreed, the doctor completes the certificate.
  • The death certificate is then sent electronically (emailed) directly to the Registrar, so families usually do not need to collect it themselves.

If the cause of death cannot be confirmed, the case may be referred to the coroner.

  1. Contact a funeral director

Once death is verified, you can contact a funeral director to:

  • Collect the body
  • Begin funeral arrangements

They will guide you through next steps and timing.

  1. Registering the death

You must register the death within 5 days in England and Wales.

The Registrar will already have received the medical certificate electronically. When registering, you’ll receive:

  • The death certificate (you can buy copies)
  • A certificate for burial or cremation (“green form”)
  1. Notify relevant organisations

You may need to inform:

  • Banks, pension providers, insurance companies
  • Government services (can be done via the “Tell Us Once” service)

Special situations

  • Expected death with a care plan (DNACPR in place): Call the care team listed in the plan—not emergency services.
  • Unexpected or unclear death: Police/coroner involvement may be required.
  • No doctor available: Call NHS 111 for guidance.

If Death Occurs in Hospital

The Hospital will advise you regards to the Death Certificate.

Further information

Additional information can be found on the Government Website. Follow the link here: When Someone Dies