These are the next steps to take if a person has been poorly and was expected to pass away.

• Telephone the Doctors Surgery where your loved one was registered and notify them of the situation and they will arrange to visit
• Once the doctor or locum has visited and verified the death, and the family are ready to convey your loved one into our care, please telephone us (there can be a six hour window for the doctor or locum to attend from the initial call being placed)
• On receipt of the call, we will take some details and then arrange for our team to attend and respectfully convey your loved one to our funeral home
• It is then necessary to obtain a Medical Certificate detailing the Cause of Death. We would recommend phoning the surgery the next working day to find out when the Medical Certificate for Cause of Death (commonly known as a death certificate) will be ready to collect
• The death certificate will be issued by the doctor who was last in attendance of the deceased, and has seen the person within fourteen days prior to them passing away.
• It is usual practice that if a person passes away during the night for a locum or on call doctor to be in attendance. They will either leave a written notification with you to pass to the surgery, or they will contact the surgery directly to inform them that the person has passed away.

Our useful checklist
Arranging a funeral

These are the next steps to take if a person has been poorly and was expected to pass away.

• The care home will arrange for a doctor or locum to attend to verify death
• Once the doctor or locum has been and verified death and the family are ready for us to convey your loved one into our care, the care home will telephone us

*There can be a six hour window for the doctor or locum to attend from the initial call

• On receipt of the call, our team will take some details and then arrange for our team to attend and respectfully convey your loved one to our funeral home.
• Obtaining a Medical Certificate for Cause of Death
• We would recommend phoning the surgery the next working day to find out when the Medical Certificate for Cause of Death (commonly known as a death certificate) will be ready to collect.
• This will be issued by the doctor who was last in attendance of the deceased, and has seen the person within fourteen days prior to them passing away.
• It is usual practice that if a person passes away during the night for a locum or on call Doctor to be in attendance. They will either leave a written notification with the care home to pass to the surgery, or they will contact the surgery direct to inform them that the person has passed away.

Our useful checklist
Arranging a funeral

The Medical Certificate for the Cause of death will be issued by the Ward Doctor provided the person has been a patient in hospital for more than 72 hours and they can give a medical cause of death.

We always recommend that you contact the Hospital Bereavement Service by telephone to make enquiries as to when the certificate can be collected. This certificate can take a few days to be issued.

If you are unsure of anything or need any advice at any point, please call us.
When you have been notified that the form is ready for collection, you will need to arrange an appointment to register at the Registrars in the area where the hospital is located.

Our useful checklist
Arranging a funeral

The Medical Certificate for the Cause of death will be issued by the Doctor provided that they can give a medical cause of death.

We always recommend that you contact the family bereavement office by telephone to make enquiries as to when the certificate can be collected. This certificate can take a few days to be issued.

If you are unsure of anything or need any advice at any point, please speak to us.

When you have been notified that the form is ready for collection, you will need to arrange an appointment to register at the Registrars in the area where the hospice is located.

Our useful checklist
Arranging a funeral

When someone passed away unexpectedly, it is normal for the Police to attend. They are there on behalf of the coroner to collect information.

Your loved one will be conveyed to a local hospital, into the care of the coroner.

Please contact us when you are able, we will liaise with the coroners office to make sure we can bring your loved one into our care as soon as possible. We will be on hand to support you and guide you every step of the way.

In The United Kingdom

At G. Seller we are experienced in looking after your loved one when they have passed away elsewhere in the United Kingdom. We will help & guide you, every step of the way.

Repatriation back to the United Kingdom

We can help & advise when someone has passed away abroad. A repatriation service may be included in your loved one’s travel insurance, but if you are unsure about anything please do not hesitate in contacting us to discuss in more detail.

Repatriation out of the United Kingdom

We can take care of repatriating your loved one to other countries. Whatever the circumstances we can help & advise.