Bereavement

Help and Advice

We offer our sincere condolences for your loss at this difficult time, and we would like to explain what happens following a loved one’s death at the hospital.

Please contact our Office when you feel ready to do so. You can either call Tel: 01270 273882 (answerphone also available) or email us directly at bereavement@mcht.nhs.uk. Our team will then explain the process of what happens next and answer any queries you may have relating to your bereavement.

We hope you were provided with a Bereavement booklet from the ward, however if not please let us know and we can provide this for you. A link is also available on our website for a digital version of this information.

All of the process will be completed over the telephone, so there will be no need to return to the hospital further unless we advise you differently. If there has been any property left at the hospital, this can be collected from the ward directly and they will be able to arrange a convenient date and time for you to collect this.

When we contact you, we will also explain the Medical Examiner Service. The Medical Examiner Service is a national statutory process that includes an independent review by a Medical Examiner who is a senior doctor or consultant who has not been involved in the care of your loved on. Medical Examiner reviews take place for all natural deaths that have occurred in any setting. This is routine and not a cause for concern. The Medical Examiner is assisted by Medical Examiners Officers.

The bereavement office will arrange for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to be completed by the treating doctors, and then we will refer this to the Medical Examiner service. A Medical Examiner Officer will call you directly prior to the Medical Examiner review to discuss your loved ones case. This call will also give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have and discuss any feedback you wish to share with the Medical Examiner. The MCCD is sent electronically by the Medical Examiner Office to the Cheshire East Register Office in Crewe, who will then contact you to arrange a formal registration appointment to register the death.

In some circumstances, it may be necessary for a death to be referred to His Majesty’s Coroners (HMC). If this happens, you will receive a phone call from our team and be updated about the reason for this referral. Again, this is not a cause for concern but this can sometimes add a slight delay to the process.

Registering a Death

The Register Office for Cheshire East is based at the Municipal Buildings in Crewe.

An appointment will be made by a Registration Officer by telephone once they have received the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death electronically from the Hospital.

Who can register the Death?

• A relative
• Someone present at the death
• The person making the arrangements with the funeral director

When you go to the Registrar

If you are able to, please take the deceased’s Birth Certificate when registering.

What you will need to tell the Registrar

• The deceased first names and surname (and maiden name if applicable)
• The deceased date and place of birth
• The deceased last known address
• The deceased occupation and the name and occupation of spouse or civil partner
• If they were married or in a civil partnership; the date of birth of the surviving spouse
• The deceased NHS number if you have it – helpful but not compulsory (not National Insurance number)

The Registrar will give you

• A certificate of Registration of Death
• A green form is issued and sent directly to the necessary funeral director

You will be able to purchase certified copies of the official death certificate which are currently charged for at £12.50 per copy.

Further copies are available from the Registrar’s should you require more copies after the date you register

The Registrar will also generate a unique reference number for you to use the ‘Tell Us Once’ service.

This is a Government service which enables you to notify central and local Government Services that someone has died.

Arranging the Funeral

You do not have to wait until the death has been registered before contacting a Funeral Director.

As the decision about who will conduct the funeral for your loved one is an important one, consider talking to more than one company before making your final choice. Recommendations by family and friends may also help in selecting a funeral director.

Funerals can be expensive although basic costs tend to be similar. However, the final cost can vary considerably. Do not be afraid to discuss your budget or obtain estimates from several undertakers.

If you are worried about funeral costs, you may be able to claim money towards the funeral through Bereavement Support on the GOV.UK website. This funeral payment is a payment to help people on a low income with the essential costs of a funeral. Visit the website for further information. If you are not happy with a funeral payment decision, you can also speak to an adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau.

If your loved one is to be buried/cremated (repatriated) outside the United Kingdom, the funeral director will be able to help you with this.