First Steps

What happens when someone passes away?

It is normal to have many questions and be unsure of what to do if someone dies but at Doncaster Independent Funeral Services, we will guide you through every step and be that helping hand that you need. Whether the death is sudden or expected, we understand that for you and your loved ones, this is an extremely sad time and we will do all we can to ease the process. When someone passes away there are several steps you need to take to inform the right people, fill in legal documents and register the death.

Following the death of a relative you will be contacted by the bereavement team who will explain what happens next. You will be advised that the death will be reviewed by a Medical Examiner.

Who are Medical Examiners and Medical Examiner Officers?

Senior NHS doctors have received specialist training and spend some of their time working as Medical Examiners. Alongside other specially trained staff, their job is to provide an independent review of the causes of death – with the exception of deaths which have to be reviewed by a Coroner. The Medical Examiners ensure that all deaths are reviewed by someone who is independent and was not involved in the patient’s care. The Medical Examiner will work with the treating doctor (such as GP or specialist doctor) to ensure that the information given on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is correct and that referrals to the Coroner are made (if needed) as soon as possible.

Medical Examiners and their staff (usually called Medical Examiner Officers) offer families and carers of the personal who has died an opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns about the causes of death, or about the care the person received before their death. This will usually be through a telephone call.

Medical Examiners and their staff will provide an independent view, as they will only review cases where they, or their staff, have not provided care for your relative/friend.

What questions will I be asked?

The Medical Examiner or their staff are able to explain what is written on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and why, if requested. They will also discuss the Medical Examiner’s review and ask if there are any concerns or questions about the care the person received before their death. This is the best time for you to ask any questions you have about the death and to speak about anything that concerns you.

Why am I being asked if I have any concerns?

A discussion with a Medical Examiner or their staff provides you with an opportunity to have an open and honest conversation with someone who was not involved in providing care to the person who died, and anything about the care that may be worrying or of concern. It could be as simple as helping you to understand more about the treatment and causes of death or to understand the medical language used, or there may be something about the care which did not feel right or ideal. This is an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns.

As well as answering your questions, this can help the NHS provide better care for other patients and carers in the future, for example by uncovering ways in which patient and family care could be improved.

Can I ask the Medical Examiner Team to talk to someone else if it’s too difficult for me to speak with them?

Yes of course, the Medical Examiner or their staff may contact you to ask who you would like us to talk to instead, or you can let the bereavement team know if you would rather have someone else as a first point of contact. The Medical Examiner or Medical Examiner Officer will usually contact you by phone before sending the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to the registrars, but we can arrange other ways of contacting you if you let us know what is best.

What if I don’t want to speak to the Medical Examiner or their staff, or I don’t want to tell them about my concerns?

We understand this is likely to be a difficult time for many people, speaking to someone is completely your choice. If you are not sure, you can contact the Medical Examiner or their staff Doncaster ME office 01302 644748 / Bassetlaw ME office 01909 572568 and ask for more information before deciding if you want to go ahead. They are trained professionals who are there to guide and help you during this difficult time and will be very understanding.

What will happen if something was not right?

The Medical Examiner and their staff are here to listen to your questions and concerns and provide answers if possible, If issues are found, they will be passed onto the appropriate people to be formally investigated; if this is the case the Medical Examiner or Officer can explain this process to you. Medical Examiners do not investigate further themselves.

Will funeral plans for release of the body take longer?

Medical Examiners make every effort to avoid any delays and work with families and carers of the person who died to meet the legal requirements for registering deaths. Each case will be dealt with individually and, when possible, the Medical Examiner’s office will give priority to those where relatives need urgent release of the deceased or any Coroner involvement.

If your loved one dies on holiday or outside of the UK:

• If this occurs, contact us as soon as possible for us to be able to liaise with authorities and ensure a quick transition to be able to bring your loved one back home.

Who do I need to inform?

• The doctor – call the medical practice and inform the staff of the recent death.
• Contact a funeral home/director and begin to arrange the funeral.

What documents do I need?

• The registrar will contact you by phone to make an appointment with you to register the death.

Who can register the death?

• Usually this responsibility is that of the relatives of the deceased however if there are no relatives, a person who was with the deceased at the time of their death or someone who is arranging the funeral can register the death.