Bereavement

Guide to if Death occurs at Home or in Hospital

If Death occurs at Home

1. Telephone the doctor who will visit to confirm that death has taken place.

2. Contact a funeral director.

3. Arrange to collect the doctor’s Medical Certificate of Death (usually from the surgery).

4. Take this to the Registrar’s Office, (together with the deceased’s Medical Card and Birth Certificate, if available) for the area in which the death took place. Alternatively you can register by declaration at any convenient Registrars Office but certificates will not be available as these will have to be posted to you a few days later.

5. The Registrar will normally issue a Green coloured certificate for you to give to your funeral director who will look after necessary arrangements for the funeral. The Registrar will also issue a white notification certificate for the DSS. They will also enquire as to the number of Certified Copies you require for dealing with the deceased finances (a fee is payable for each copy).

If the Death occurs in Hospital

1. Contact a funeral director to inform him his services are required.

2. Collect the certificate from the hospital then follow 4 – 5 as above

Bereavement Support

The booklet below has been created to help anyone in St Helens experiencing bereavement or loss to find the services they need.

We are extremely sorry for your loss and appreciate this will be an incredibly difficult time. The death of a loved one can be among the most difficult moments that any of us will face in our lives, and it often falls on those closest to the deceased and grieving the most to organise the funeral. This document includes:

  • How to register a death
  • How to arrange a funeral
  • How to deal with financial arrangements
  • How to find a bereavement counsellor
  • Local and national support and contact details

Step-by-step guidance can also be found on the Government’s website at:

Social Prescribing

Access a range of local community groups, free activities and support for your social, emotional or practical needs. You will be assigned a link worker who will work with you on a one to one basis to help find activities and support services that will improve your wellbeing.

Telephone: 01744 371 111

Website: www.sthelenswellbeing.org.uk

Email: chcp.sthelens@nhs.net

Mental Health

Five Ways to Wellbeing (Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give) is a set of activities, which helps provide you with the skills to be happier, healthier and better able to cope in everyday life, especially when things aren’t going so well.

Telephone: 01744 371 111

Website: www.sthelenswellbeing.org.uk

Email: chcp.sthelens@nhs.net