Death In Professional Care

What To Do When Someone Dies In Professional Care

When someone dies in professional care whether that be in a care home or hospital, it can be a difficult time for all those involved which is why we’ve created this guide to help you through the process.

What do you do when someone dies in a care home?

If your loved one passes away while being cared for in a care home, the on-site staff will know what to do and the processes that must be followed. If you are not present when your loved one passes away, care home staff will notify you as soon as possible after their death.

If the death was expected, either yourself or the care home staff will need to call their Doctor (G.P) and in most instances when someone dies in a care home and it is expected by those closest to them, the GP will issue a Medical Certificate for the cause of death.

When a loved one passes away unexpectedly, the GP or care home staff will contact the Coroner to carry out an Inquest. When the death is unexpected, you won’t be able to register the death until the coroner has confirmed the cause of death which may lead to a delay in the funeral, but your funeral planner will be able to guide you through this process.

What do you do when someone dies in hospital?

When a loved one has unfortunately passed away in hospital, the next of kin or closest family members will be informed immediately. Many hospitals in the UK have staff specialising in bereavement matters who are able to explain procedures and next steps to you, otherwise, this may be done by the ward staff. If a loved one has died in the hospital, they will be kept in the hospital mortuary until you can arrange for your chosen funeral director, or family, to collect them.

If the death was expected, a doctor from the hospital issue a Medical Certificate for the cause of death. Your funeral director will then be able to advise you on registering a death and what the next steps will be.

If the death in the hospital was unexpected, there is a possibility the death will be followed by a coroner’s inquest (determine how, when and where the person died). When the death is unexpected, you won’t be able to register the death until the coroner has confirmed the cause of death which may lead to a delay in the funeral, but your funeral planner will be able to guide you through this process.

What else do you need to think about?

When someone has died in a care home, hospital or other professional care facility and the cause of death has been confirmed by a GP or coroner, you will then need to register their death. You must register a death within five days if you are in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and within eight days if you are in Scotland. Once the death has been registered, you will receive a Certificate for Burial or Cremation and the next steps will be guided by your funeral director.