In times of bereavement

In times of bereavement

When a death occurs at home

1. Telephone the surgery who will arrange for a doctor or Advanced Care Practitioner to visit and confirm that death has taken place. If this is out of surgery hours, please call 111.
2. Contact a funeral director.
3. All expected deaths that occur at home must be referred to the Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) for approval. A doctor who has been involved in the care of the deceased during their lifetime will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). The Surgery will email the MCCD to the Medical Examiner’s Office and you do not need to attend the surgery to collect any paperwork. You will be contacted by the MEO to confirm you are in agreement with the cause of death before they email the MCCD to the register office on your behalf. You can now contact the register office to complete the death registration.

Ideally when someone dies you should register the death within five days. However, this is guidance only as there may be delays if the Medical Examiner requires more information from the doctor or if a coroner is involved. The death may also occur over a weekend or bank holiday which may also extend the registration period.

      Important: Please do not book an appointment with the register office until the Medical Examiner has contacted you and advised that the medical certificate has been issued to the registration service. Registrations should be made within 5 days of the paperwork being issued.

1. To register the death you will need to attend an appointment and take the deceased’s medical card and birth certificate (if available) with you. You can book an appointment to register a death through our website (www.kent.gov.uk/registration) or by contacting 03000 415151. Registrations are completed in our libraries and not in the register office.
2. The Registrar will issue a green form which they will email to your funeral director, and will register the death with the Tell Us Once service so that you can advise the Department of Social Security of the death. They will also enquire as to the number of certified copies you require for dealing with the deceased’s finances (a fee is payable for each copy).

When a death occurs in hospital

1. Contact a funeral director.
2. The hospital will issue the MCCD and email this to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
3. Once approved the MEO will email the certificate to the Register Office.
4. Follow steps 4-5 as above.

Important: Please do not book an appointment with the registry office until you have received confirmation that the paperwork has been emailed to them.

Bereavement support

Bereavement can be a difficult time. It is natural for us to feel pain and other emotions after the loss of a loved one. If you feel that you would like to talk to someone, please contact one of the organisations below.

Pilgrims Hospice Support Groups

Talking Therapies Swale or call 0333 091 0414

www.eastkentswalecruse.org.uk

www.bereavementadvice.org/kent or call: 0800 634 9494

www.samaritans.org or call: 116 123