important information for bereaved · pdf file2 important information for bereaved relatives...

Important information for bereaved relativesAn information guide

TO PROVIDE THE VERY BEST CARE FOR EACH PATIENT ON EVERY OCCASION

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Important information for bereavedrelatives

Acknowledgement

We wish to offer you and your family our deepest condolences at this sad and difficult time.

We hope this guide explains what happens next and offers some guidance and contact details.

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Contents

First steps - page 4

Arranging to see your loved one - page 6

Organ and tissue donation - page 7

Death of a child - page 8

Registering a death - page 9

The role of the Coroner - page 11

Hospital Post Mortem - page 12

Arranging a funeral - page 12

Coping with grief - page 13

Bereavement support - page 14

Spiritual Care - page 17

What to do next - page 18

Viewing arrangements - page 6

Please be advised that you cannot make an appointment to register the death until the Bereavement Service have confirmed that a Death Certificate can be issued. Once the certificate is ready for collection, the Bereavement Service will contact you to arrange collection of this from the Swan suite bereavement centre, located at each of the hospital sites.

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First steps

The Bereavement Service will deal with all the arrangements foryou in order for you to register the death.

If your loved one passed away on a hospital ward then you willneed to contact the Bereavement Service. If they passed awayduring the weekend or overnight, then please contact theBereavement Service after 10am the next working day.

The doctor who cared for the deceased will either complete a Causeof Death form or discuss the death with the Coroner if it is not clearwhat caused the death.

The Coroner may request that the deceased is examined in aprocedure called a Post Mortem. Further information on PostMortem examination and the role of Coroner can be found later inthis leaflet.

Please be advised that you cannot make an appointment to registerthe death until the Bereavement Service have confirmed that aDeath Certificate can be issued. Once the certificate is ready forcollection, the Bereavement Service will contact you to arrangecollection of this from the Swan Suite, located at each of thehospital sites.

the deceased

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The Bereavement Service contact details are:

The Royal Oldham Hospital

Bereavement Office/Swan Suite, Chalmers Keddie Building, TheRoyal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham, OL1 2JH - 0161627 8321/8322/8323

North Manchester General Hospital

Swan Suite, Entrance 3, D Block, North Manchester GeneralHospital, Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, M8 5RB - 0161720 2199

Fairfield General Hospital

Bereavement Office/Swan Suite, Fairfield General Hospital,Rochdale Old Road, Bury, BL9 7TD - 0161 778 3859

Rochdale Infirmary

General Office, Whitehall Street, Rochdale, OL12 0NB - 01706517027

Please note that these offices are closed on bank holidaysalongside other council services i.e. Registrars.

Swan Suite Bereavement Centre, Chalmers Keddie Building, TheRoyal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham, OL1 2JH - 0161627 8321/8322/8323

Swan Suite Bereavement Centre, Entrance 3, D Block, North Manchester General Hospital, Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, M8 5RB - 0161 720 2199

Swan Suite Bereavement Centre, Fairfield General Hospital, Rochdale Old Road, Bury, BL9 7TD - 0161 778 3859

Swan Suite Bereavement Centre / General Office, Whitehall Street, Rochdale, OL12 0NB - 01706 517027

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Rochdale Infirmary



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Rochdale Infirmary



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Rochdale Infirmary



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Rochdale Infirmary



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Arranging to see your loved one

Soon after a patient dies they are taken to the mortuary, whilstarrangements are being made. There is a room set aside withineach mortuary specifically for relatives to see their loved one. If youwish to do so please ring the mortuary to make an appointment.


Westhulme Street, Oldham, OL1 2NH

Telephone number: 0161 627 8115

Opening Times: Monday to Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm


Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, M8 5RB




Rochdale Old Road, Bury, BL9 7TD



Rochdale Infirmary - you will need to contact Fairfield GeneralHospital Mortuary on telephone number: 0161 778 3630


Viewing Arrangements

Soon after a patient dies they are taken to the mortuary, whilst arrangements are being made. There is a room set aside within each mortuary specifically for relatives to see the deceased.If you wish to do so please ring the mortuary to make an apppointment.

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Calling out of hours

If you are calling outside of these hours for any of the hospitals,then please contact the main hospital switchboard on 0161 6240420 and ask to speak to the on-call mortuary technician. In specialcircumstances it may be possible to make an appointment to visitthe deceased up to 8:00pm. Alternatively, arrangements can bemade with your funeral director to see your relative/friend in thechapel of rest.

Organ and tissue donation

When a relative, child or friend dies in hospital or at home, it maybe possible to donate organs or tissue (eyes, heart valves, skin,bone and tendons) for transplant or research. If the deceased wassuitable for organ donation you will have already discussed theoption of organ donation with the specialist nurse in hospital.

After death has occurred, tissue donation normally happens within24 hours. However, it is sometimes possible to donate up to 48hours later. Donation may improve the quality of life for others; asmany as 50 people can be helped by the donation from one person.

You may receive a call from a tissue donation specialist nurse todiscuss the option of donation. Please note that:

• only tissues for which you have given permission will be donated

• donation will not delay any funeral arrangements

• the donor is treated with respect and dignity

• the specialist team will ensure that the donor maintains a naturalappearance after donation

• you may see the deceased after donation, if you wish

• if you would want to speak to a specialist nurse regarding tissuedonation please call 0800 432 0559.

the deceased.

Calling out of hours

If you are calling outside of these hours for any of the hospitals, then please contact the main hospital switchboard on 0161 624 0420 and ask to speak to the on-call mortuary technician. In special circumstances it may be possible to make an appointment to visit the deceased up to 8:00pm. Alternatively, arrangements can be made with your funeral director to see the deceased in the chapel of rest.

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Sudden or unexpected death of a child

If a child under the age of 18 years dies suddenly or unexpectedlythen the Rapid Response Team will be involved. The RapidResponse Team is a team of senior people led by a children’s doctor,a police officer and also a Coroner’s officer acting on behalf of theCoroner.

This team will work with the Coroner’s Office to sensitivelyinvestigate the cause of death and explain the investigationprocess to the family.

They will support the bereaved family and siblings in reaching anunderstanding as to why their child has died. The BereavementServices Team will also provide the family with emotional supportduring and after this tragic time.

Support

You can stay with your child after their death. A nurse willaccompany you and your child to the mortuary when you are readyto leave the hospital.

Following the loss of your child the grief you are feeling can makeeveryday life feel very difficult and lonely. You may be finding itvery difficult to cope, as most people feel a variety of emotions.Friends and family may provide support at this time.

Some families may wish to have a brief ceremony or blessingregardless of religion which we can arrange for you.

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Registering a death

Once the Medical Certificate for Cause of Death has been issued orthe Coroner’s post mortem examination has taken place, youshould make arrangements to register the death, ideally within fiveworking days. Registration usually takes place in the town wherethe death has occurred, although appointments are sometimesavailable at other locations, including the hospital. Please clarifywith the hospital.

You will need to take the Medical Certificate for Cause of Death (ifissued) and any other documentation you are advised to take whenattending your appointment. If the Coroner has requested a postmortem examination, the relevant paperwork will be sent directlyto the Register Office from the Coroner`s Office.

If the Coroner feels that an Inquest is required, then you will receivea Death Certificate or an “Interim Death Certificate” directly fromthe Register Office. You will be given a Form of Authority toproceed with the Funeral arrangements (known as the GreenForm) which you must give to your Funeral Director.

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Register Office contact details:

Oldham Register Office for the Royal Oldham Hospital

Office of registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages,

Chadderton Town Hall, Middleton Road, Chadderton, Oldham OL96PP.

Telephone Number: 0161 7708960 or visit www.oldham.gov.uk forfurther details.

Rochdale Register Office for Rochdale Hospitals

Town Hall, Rochdale, OL16 1AB

924785 or contactTelephone Number: 01706 www.rochdale.gov.uk for further details.

Bury Register Office for Fairfield General Hospital

Town Hall, Manchester Road, Bury, BL9 0SW

Telephone Number: 0161 253 6026 or visit www.bury.gov.uk forfurther details.

Manchester Register Office for North Manchester General Hospital

Heron House, 47 LIoyd Street, Manchester, M2 5LE

5005 or visitTelephone Number: 0161 234 www.manchester.gov.uk for further details.

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The role of the Coroner

The Coroner is a judicial officer, usually a lawyer or a doctor who records and investigates deaths occurring in certain circumstances. A doctor must report a death to the Coroner if appropriate. Most commonly, after an accident or injury; following an industrial disease; during a surgical operation; before recovery from an anaesthetic; where the cause of death is unknown; if the death was violent or unnatural (for example; suicide, accident, drug or alcohol overdoses) or if the death was sudden and unexplained.

The Coroner will decide whether a Medical Certificate for Cause of Death will be issued or if a post mortem examination will be required. Depending upon your religion, there may be an option to have a body scan instead of a post mortem, at the cost of the family. However, dependent upon these results, a post mortem may still be necessary.

If a post mortem examination is necessary, it will be carried out by a pathologist, a specialist doctor who informs the Coroner, if possible, how a person died. You do not have the right to object to a Coroner’s post-mortem. The Coroner will however, give due consideration to any concerns you may have.

Once the post mortem has taken place, you will be contacted by the Coroner’s Office and advised to make an appointment to register the death. If the post mortem is able to give a cause of death, the Coroner will notify the Register Office and you will be able to proceed with the funeral arrangements.

The Coroner may decide to hold an Inquest. This is an official medical/legal investigation into the cause of a person's death. If an Inquest is required then it will be opened and adjourned. This means that the enquiry has started but the hearing will take place at a later date, which may be a number of months ahead. At the Inquest you have the right to ask questions of the witnesses, either directly or through a solicitor. This will not delay the funeral

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arrangements as the Register Office will be asked to issue an Interim Death Certificate which will allow you to arrange the funeral.

The Coroner’s contact numbers for the local area's are as follows:

They are supported by a number of officers who you can call with any enquiries:-

Oldham, Rochdale and Bury - 01706 924 815

North Manchester - 0161 219 2222

Hospital Post Mortem

In some instances, the medical staff may ask for your consent to undertake a hospital post mortem. This may help to increase our understanding of the disease process and help us to improve the care of others in the future. If you are asked to consent, you will be provided with detailed information to help you make an informed decision.

Please note that all hospital post mortems are only carried out at the Royal Oldham Hospital and that your loved one will be transferred to this location.

Arranging a funeral

We suggest looking through the records of the deceased to check if they have already paid for their funeral before making any arrangements with a funeral director. If no prior arrangements have been made then you may approach a funeral director of your choice. Firm arrangements are unable to be made until the death has been registered or the Coroner has arranged for the Interim Death Certificate to be issued.

the deceased

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Paying for a funeral

Funerals can be expensive and there are a wide range of optionsavailable. Your funeral director should be able to advise youfurther on these. The person arranging the funeral is the personliable for the payment. You may be able to withdraw money fromthe bank account of the deceased in order to pay for this. Theirbank manager will be able to assist you with this. The Hospitalcannot assist in arranging or funding a funeral.

If you are on a low income you may be able to get help from theState. Jobcentre Plus may give funeral payments through the SocialFund to those who meet certain criteria. The funeral paymentcovers basic expenses such as burial or cremation fees and the costof the coffin. There may be a significant difference between whatyou are entitled to and how much a funeral costs.

For details on claiming a funeral payment, call or visit your localJobcentre Plus Office or call telephone number 0800 055 6688.

Coping with grief

Everyone feels differently when a loved one dies. There are no rightor wrong ways to feel after their death. Some prefer to deal withtheir feelings on their own, others seek support from friends or acertain individual, from a group of people who have had similarexperiences or from professionals such as a bereavement specialistnurse, psychologist or counsellor. It is important to remember thatit is normal to need support in coming to terms with your loss andthat help is available to you.

Questions and concerns

After a person dies, it is often difficult to take in and process all theinformation you are given. Once people have dealt with the busyperiod following the death this is the time people often think of

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the questions they would like to ask. This can help with thegrieving process.

If you do have any questions or concerns about your relative’streatment then you can approach us and we will do our best toaddress these. You can arrange to speak to a senior member ofstaff, (for example a matron or consultant), which can be facilitatedby the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0161 604 5897.

Bereavement support

The Bereavement Service specialist nurses can provide you withsupport about matters affecting you following your loss. We areavailable for families requiring support following bereavement inthe hospital and occasionally those who have died suddenly in thecommunity. We are not counsellors but we do offer a safe place foryou to discuss your feelings.

You can access this support directly via the Bereavement Team orthrough your own GP/family doctor. Some other organisationsthat may be able to help you are:

Care Concern Bereavement Loss & Counselling - 0161 796 0807

Cruse Bereavement Loss & Counselling - 0844 4779 400

How to explain death to a child or young person

Talking to your children about death can be difficult, especiallywhen you feel you do not have all the answers. Children will havesimilar feelings to adults (such as shock, upset, anger etc.) followingthe death of a loved one.

Rather than speaking about their feelings, children may typicallyask practical questions instead.

They require honest information in a language they understand,which often has to be regularly repeated. At times, children canappear to accept the death of a loved one, but later become upset.

Bereavement support

The Bereavement Service specialist nurses can provide you with support about matters affecting you following your loss. We are available for families requiring support following bereavement in the hospital and occasionally for those who have died suddenly in the community. We are not counsellors but we do offer a safe place for you to discuss your feelings.

They require honest information in a language they understand, which often has to be regularly repeated. At times, children can appear to accept the death, but then later become upset.

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This can be distressing for adults, but children must be given achance to display their grief in their own time.

Useful contacts that can help and support children and youngpeople who are grieving are:

Winston's Wish

www.winstonswish.org.uk

08452 03 04 05

Childline

www.childline.org.uk

Telephone: 0800 1111

The Gaddum Centre

www.gaddumcentre.co.uk

Telephone: 0161 834 6069

Specialist organisations who provide support to bereaved parentsand siblings are:-

Child Death Helpline

www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk

Freephone: 0800 282 986/ 0808 800 6019

Every evening: 19.00 -22.00

Monday to Friday: 10.00 – 13.00

Tuesday and Wednesday: 13.00 – 16.00

Child Bereavement UK

www.childbereavementuk.org

Telephone: 01928 577164

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Offer over the telephone support sessions

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0800 028 8840

Together for Short Lives

www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk

Together for Families helpline

7am till midnight, 7 days a week

0808 8088 100

Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)

Telephone: 020 7436 5881

www.uk-sands.org

Alder Centre

Bereavement Counselling: 0151 252 5391

Monday to Thursday: 09:00 – 17:00

Friday; 09:00 – 16:30

www.alderhey.com

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Spiritual Care

When a loved one or someone we know dies, we may needsomeone to talk to. Often this support comes from family andfriends, although sometimes it can help to talk to someone who isimpartial.

Grief and loss can also raise spiritual and/or religious concerns. Attimes, what you are experiencing may be different to that felt byyour family or friends and you may want to speak to someoneabout this. Chaplains are here to ensure that your beliefs and valuesare respected and that your spiritual needs are met, ensuringconfidentiality is maintained at all times.

Providing an opportunity to remember a loved one who hasrecently died can help a person with their grief. Chaplaincy canorganise a Remembrance Service where their name is read out anda candle is lit in their memory. Refreshments are availableafterwards.

Chaplains are available to speak to everyone and can be contactedas follows:


Telephone Number: 0161 778 3568

The Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary and Floyd Unit




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What to do next

Who to inform

If the deceased was claiming any benefits or state pension, you willneed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions. To do thisyou need to complete Form BD8 which will be given to you whenyou register the death.

You should also notify HM Revenue and Customs (the Tax Office).Please contact the Tax helpline who will advise you further on 0845300 0627.

You should also contact where appropriate:

Bank/building society

Insurance company(s)

Personal/occupational pension scheme

Employer

Utility provider, TV/telephone provider, mobile phone company (ifthe deceased was responsible for paying these bills)

The DVLA and Passport Service

Wills and Probate

If the deceased made a Will, it will name an Executor, who is theperson responsible for making sure that the instructions in the Willare carried out. The process of dealing with a person’s belongingsafter they die is called Probate. The Executor may need to obtain anofficial document known as a Grant of Probate which legally allowsthem to deal with the deceased`s Estate (anything belonging to theperson who has died). This is available from the local ProbateRegistry. If the person did not leave a Will but had money, property

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or anything else of value, an application to deal with their estatecan be made to the Probate Registry.

For the Greater Manchester area, the contact details for theProbate Registry - 0800 258 5903.

You can seek the help of a solicitor in such matters, but this is foryou to decide.

The Bereavement Advice Centre is also available to give advice onquestions surrounding Probate, Tax and Benefits.

The contact details are:

Telephone: 0800 634 0101

www.bereavementadvice.org

Age UK also runs a free will advice service for people over 60.

www.ageuk.org.uk

For further details and information pack please call 020 7239 1965.

Money matters

As well as the costs of arranging a funeral, the loss of a loved onecan also cause money worries. It is therefore a good idea to check ifyou are eligible for any benefits you may be able to claim, includingthose for people whose loved one has recently died.

If you find that you now have less money coming in, you may alsobe entitled to Tax Credits.

For further information and advice on such matters, you may wishto speak to Citizens Advice Bureau. If you have access to theinternet you can visit their website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Practical help

Sometimes the deceased was the person you relied upon for your help and support with your day-to-day activities.

Social Services can assist in providing help for older people or people with a disability so that you can continue to manage in your own home.

For further information please contact your local Social Services on the following numbers to see if you are entitled to any help.

Bolton - 01204 337970

Bury - 0161 253 7190

Manchester - 0161 205 7321

Oldham - 0161 770 1515

Rochdale - 0845 602 4991

Salford - 0161 909 6517

Stockport - 0161 217 6029

Trafford - 0161 912 5199

Tameside - 0161 342 2400

Wigan - 01942 828777

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Carers

The death of a loved one can sometimes mean that you becomemore involved in the care of someone who was previously beinglooked after by the deceased. Being a carer can affect people’s livesin different ways. Some people make a decision to reduce theirhours or even give up work altogether, which can have a financialimpact. Looking after someone else can also affect a person’s ownhealth. Support is available especially for carers in addition to helpfrom Social Services. You can get help, advice and support fromcarers’ groups in your local area.

Telephone details of some local organisations are:

Bury Carers Centre - 0161 763 4867

Manchester Carers Centre - 0161 835 2995

Oldham Carers Centre - 0161 770 1188

Salford Carers Centre - 0161 833 0217

Signpost Stockport for Carers - 0161 456 2808

Trafford Carers Centre - 01942 606 086

Warrington Carers Centre - 01925 644 212

Stopping unwanted mail

The Bereavement Register is an organisation that will attempt tostop you receiving unwanted mail for the deceased. Please contactthem for further information on 01732 460000.

Acknowledgment to Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust for theproduction of this leaflet.

If English is not your first language and you need help, please contact the Ethnic Health Team on 0161 627 8770

For general enquiries please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0161 604 5897

For enquiries regarding clinic appointments, clinical care and treatment please contact 0161 624 0420 and the Switchboard Operator will put you through to the correct department / service

Date of publication: October 2015Date of review: April 2017Date of next review: April 2019Ref: PI (C) 192© The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust www.pat.nhs.ukWood pulp sourced from

sustainable forests

Jeżeli angielski nie jest twoim pierwszym językiem i potrzebujesz pomocy proszę skontaktować się z załogą Ethnic Health pod numerem telefonu 0161 627 8770

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