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What to do when a loved one has passed away.

At Southall Funeral Service, we know how difficult and disorientating it can be when a loved one passes away, we’re here to help.

A member of our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our service to you starts the moment you contact ourselves, whether by telephone or a personal visit to our premises and will often extend way beyond the day of the funeral.

On initial contact we will ask you for preliminary details, whether you loved one has passed away at home, a hospital or private nursing home, we will arrange the transfer of your loved one into our care. We would then arrange a time and place to suit yourselves, for the arrangements of the funeral service.

This section offers a brief guide to the things you need to consider when someone dies, it is common that people are unsure of what to do following a bereavement and the following information offers some initial guidance.

What to do when a Death occurs

When a death occurs at home

The first contact when a death occurs at home should be with the deceased’s Doctor who, if satisfed with the cause of death, will issue the Medical Certificate of Death, which may need to be collected from the Doctor’s surgery if the death occurs outside the surgery’s opening hours. If the cause of death cannot be determined then the doctors will refer the death to the Coroner.

When a death occurs in Hospital

When a death occurs in hospital, the hospital staff will arrange for a Doctor to issue the Medical Certificate of Death, which will need to collect along with a belongings from the hospital. If the funeral is to be a cremation, please advise the hospital staff so they can make arrangements for any additional documentation that is needed. The Hospital may also issue a release form, which needs to be signed by the next of kin, thus releasing the deceased into the care of the Funeral Director.

When a death occurs in a Nursing Home

When a death occurs in a Nursing Home, the staff at the nursing home will liaise with the Doctor who if satisfed with the cause of death will issue the Medical Certificate of Death, which may be need to be collect from the Doctor’s surgery, if the cause of death cannot be determined then the doctor will refer the death to the Coroner.

When a death occurs unexpectedly

The Coroner is in the main automatically involved. If the deceased has not been under a Doctor’s care on a regular basis, the emergency Doctor, or any Police involved, will inform the Coroner as soon as possible.

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