First Steps
Practical Information to Help When a Loved One Passes Away
We understand that when someone passes away, there can be many questions, decisions, and emotions to face all at once. We are here, from our family to yours, to gently guide you through the process of saying farewell to your loved one, in a way that feels right for you.
To help you begin, we have put together a simple breakdown of the very first steps to take when someone passes away. You are always welcome to contact us at any time, and we will guide you through each step personally. But if it helps to have the information written down in front of you, you can find it below.
Who to Contact
Before anything else, every death must be formally verified.
This means a trained professional—such as a GP, registered nurse, or paramedic—must carry out specific checks to confirm the absence of life before your loved one can be moved into the care of the funeral director or transferred to a hospital or other appropriate setting.
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If the deceased passes away. inhospital, the hospital will deal with the immediate arrangements and guide you through the initial processes of obtaining paperwork, personal information etc
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If death occurs at home:
Within working hours - the deceased’s doctor should be contacted
Out of working hours - call NHS 111 to contact the doctor or district nurse on call for the area. Once verified, the deceased can be moved to your chosen funeral director
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If someone passes away suddenly or unexpectedly then the police need to be called and the Coroner will be informed. The police will guide you through the procedure and they will arrange for the transfer of the deceased, on behalf of the Coroner, to the local hospital or dedicated mortuary.
The coroner will then give the family / next of kin / executor clear instructions regarding the way forward and if post-mortem or inquiry is needed they will provide the necessary paperwork to move forward with the funeral arrangements.