The Bereavement Service is available to offer advice and information to relatives and friends of patients who have died in one of our hospitals and to help guide them through some practical aspects following a death.
Please contact the Bereavement Office on 01274 364477 between 10.00 and 11.00 on the next working day after the person has died. The Bereavement Team will take some details from you and explain what happens next.
There are three things you need to do in the first few days after someone dies in hospital:
Contact the Bereavement Office on 01274 364477 between 10.00 and 11.00 on the next working day after the person has died.
The Bereavement Team will take some details from you and explain what happens next. A Medical member of staff will complete a medical cause of death certificate (MCCD) to enable the death registration to be arranged. If your relative’s death needs to be referred to the Coroner’s Office the reason for this will be explained to you.
The MCCD will be reviewed by the Medical Examiner Team. A Medical Examiner Officer will make contact with via phone to explain what’s been added to the MCCD. At the end of the call the MCCD will be electronically sent to the Bradford Council Registrars in order for an appointment to be made to register the death.
Register the death with the Bradford Register Office
When the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) has been completed, it will be sent electronically to Bradford Register Office and you will be advised to contact the Register Office on 01274 432151 to book a face to face registration appointment. At this appointment you will be able to purchase any copies of medical certificates you may need at a price of £11 each.
Arrange the funeral
You may contact a funeral director as soon as you feel ready to do so however a funeral can only take place once the death has been registered.
To compare prices of funeral directors in your area and for free independent advice about funerals you can visit Your Funeral Choice.
If you would like advice regarding the possibility of applying for a Funeral Expenses payment this information please browse the Government website (https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments)
Bradford City Council no longer charges for a burial or cremation of a child under the age of 18. Information regarding the Children’s Funeral Fund for England can be found on the Government website (https://www.gov.uk/child-funeral-costs)
The Bereavement Team can arrange for you to pick up any property or valuables your relative or friend had in the hospital. If there is property you do not wish to be returned, the hospital can arrange to sensitively dispose of this. Please contact the Bereavement Office on 01274 364477 if you would like to make an appointment to collect property. The Bereavement Office opens Monday to Friday 8am-4pm.
The Trust provides a ‘Coping with your Bereavement’ booklet which gives help, advice and useful information
Some deaths are referred to the HM Coroner. Examples of reasons to refer are:
- The death is sudden and unexplained
- The cause of death is unknown
- The cause of death is unnatural (eg suicide, accident, poisoning)
- The death occurred during or soon after undergoing a medical procedure
- The death is caused by an industrial disease
If this has been decided you will be informed by the medical member of staff who has made the referral or the Bereavement Service. Your preferred contact details will be added to the completed referral and the Coroner’s Office will contact you to explain their process and discuss what happens next.
When a death has been referred to HM Coroner the hospital is unable to act until we have been informed of what action HM Corner has decided to take.
The role of the Medical Examiner (ME), has been introduced into the Trust to ensure that the cause of death given on the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) is correct and that referrals to the Coroner, where relevant, are made in a timely and appropriate manner to avoid unnecessary delays.
The Medical Examiner is an independent senior doctor not involved in your relative’s / loved one’s care, who reviews the medical record to understand the circumstances around the cause of death.
Once the cause of death has been discussed and agreed with the clinical team who cared for your relative, the MCCD can be issued. The Medical Examiner or Medical Examiner’s Officer will contact you, or the designated family member, to explain the cause of death.
You will be asked if you have any comments or concerns about your relative’s care and will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. If the Medical Examiner is unable to answer your questions immediately, he/she will advise you regarding sources of additional support or information.
The MCCD will be scanned to Bradford Register Office and you will be advised to ring (01274) 432151 to make an appointment to register the death.