Update on the role of doctors after a death at home

There is a lot to do and think about when a patient dies. Remember to ensure other healthcare professionals involved in the patient's care are informed as soon as possible.

Information for families immediately after a death at home

Funeral directors will not collect a body from a patient's home until death has been confirmed/verified

It is a legal requirement to register the death within 5 days unless the case has been referred to the coroner

The process of registering a death has to take place face to face in the local Register Office

 Information about bereavement may be helpful

Death verification

Any trained healthcare professional can verify a death

There has been a focus on training nurses to verify death. Up to date guidance is available here

Death certification

The law changed on September 9th 2024 -

Now, ANY doctor who has attended the patient WITHIN THEIR LIFETIME can complete an MCCD if they can establish the cause of death to the best of their knowledge, and the death is not required to be notified to the coroner.

The patient does NOT need to have been seen by the certifying doctor in the previous 28 days, as previously required, but at some stage in their lifetime.

The MCCD form has changed - summarised in this table 

The proposed cause of death and MCCD will then be scrutinised by the Medical Examiner team

Medical Examiner process

This a new system to scrutinise the cause of death - it became law for ALL community deaths on September 9th 2024

Once the Medical Examiner has agreed the cause of death with the certifying doctor, they will offer a conversation with the family to explain this and hear any concerns. They will then send the MCCD to the Registrar and the family can book an appointment to formally register the death

The death has to be registered within 5 days of the Registrar receiving the MCCD from the Medical Examiner 

Detailed information about rationale and process is here

Cremation forms

Since the change of law on September 9th, these will no longer be required to be completed

Once the Medical Examiner has agreed the cause of death, and the death has been registered, the funeral director will be informed regarding the approval for cremation, without the need for an extra cremation form

The new MCCDs ask for information about implanted devices 

 

Recommended Resources

What to do when someone dies: step by step

Published 2nd October 2024

Medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD): guidance for medical practitioners

Published 9th August 2024

Share

Downloads

Related Services

Hospices

24 hour Advice Line Pembridge Hospice
Close

24 hour Advice Line Pembridge Hospice

T. 0208 102 5000

W. https://www.pembridgehospice.org/

Pembridge Hospice provides palliative care services and advice to the residents of Brent, Central London, West London and Hammermith and Fulham.

This is a 24 hour, 7 days a week telephone advice line.

Referral form for clinician use only.

 

Community Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form V4.2 (DOCX)
Community Palliative Care Team (South) - Royal Trinity
Close

Community Palliative Care Team (South) - Royal Trinity

T. 020 7787 1062

Royal Trinity Hospice (South) provides advice and visiting palliative care patients of Hammersmith and Fulham, Central London and West London.

They can be contacted 8am -8pm  7 days a week.

Referral form for clinician use only.

Community Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form V4.2 (DOCX)
Hospice UK
Close

Hospice UK can help find a hospice, provide infromation and support about end of life care and guidance to plan ahead.

Royal Trinity Hospice
Close

Royal Trinity Hospice

T. 0207 787 1062

W. https://www.royaltrinityhospice.london/

Royal Trinity Hospice provides palliative care services to the residents of Hammersmith and Fulham, Central London and West London.

There is a 24 hour, 7 days a week clinical advice line and OOH access to the on-call consultant.

Referral form for clinician use only.

Community Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form V4.2 (DOCX)
St John's Hospice Inpatient unit
Close

St John's Hospice Inpatient unit

T. 020 7806 4040 / 07725 258767

W. https://www.stjohnshospice.org.uk/our-care/inpatient-care

St. John's Hospice provides inpatient palliative care services to the residents of Brent, Central London and West London.

This is an inpatient unit with 18 beds

Please contact for admissions for advice and Community Specialist Palliative Care.

The office hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. Referrals received in the morning are triaged the same afternoon, and those received in the afternoon are triaged the following working day.

If urgent, please follow up the referral by calling us on 020 7806 4040. Out of hours, urgent referrals will be discussed with the consultant on call.

Referral form for clinician use only.

Community Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form V4.2 (DOCX)

Bereavement services for adults

At a Loss
Close

Bereavement support for all ages including children.

Bereavement Support available with a bereavement counsellor online: https://www.ataloss.org/live-chat

Bereavement Advice Centre
Close

Bereavement Advice Centre

W. https://www.bereavementadvice.org/

Bereavement Advice Centre provides practical help when you need it most. They support and advise people on what they need to do after a death.

Bereavement Support at Royal Trinity Hospice
Close

Bereavement Support at Royal Trinity Hospice

T. 020 7787 1000

W. https://www.royaltrinityhospice.london/bereavement-support

The Bereavement team supports family members, friends, children and carers through the emotional impact of grief. The support is available to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one who was cared for by the Hospice. 

The Bereavement team offer support specifically for children and guidance to parents on how to explain death and grief to children.

Child Bereavement Service at St. John's Hospice
Close

Child Bereavement Service at St. John's Hospice

T. 020 7078 3840

W. https://www.stjohnshospice.org.uk/our-care/bereavement-support/

The Child Bereavement Service is a free service provided by a specialist social work team with a long track record of providing practical and emotional support to individuals and families before and after a bereavement.

Child Bereavement UK
Close

Child Bereavement UK

T. 0800 02 888 40

W. https://www.childbereavementuk.org/

Offer a telephone support service for bereaved young people up to age 25, their families/ carers or individuals or families who have lost a child. 

The support team is available to respond to calls, Live Chat or email from 9.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.

Child Death Helpline
Close

Child Death Helpline

T. 0800 282 986

W. http://childdeathhelpline.org.uk/

Child Death Helpline is operated by a dedicated team of volunteers who are all bereaved parents. The helpline provides support to a parent who has lost a child of any age, under any circumstances, and however recently or long ago, we’re here to help. They also offer support to grandparents, siblings and the extended family, as well as professionals who have been impacted by the death of a child.

CRUSE Bereavement care
Close

CRUSE Bereavement care

T. 0808 808 1677

W. http://www.cruse.org.uk/

CRUSE Bereavement care helps people through bereavement with support, information and campaigning.

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service
Close

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service

T. 020 8951 3881

W. https://jbcs.org.uk/

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service has counsellors that understand the specific issues raised by bereavement within a Jewish context. This service is sensitive, aware and knowledgeable about social, cultural and religious needs.

Kensington and Chelsea CRUSE Bereavement care
Close

Kensington and Chelsea CRUSE Bereavement care

T. 020 8964 3455

W. https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/contactsdirectory/az.aspx?OrgId=454

The Kensington and Chelsea Branch of CRUSE provides local support by counselling to those who have been bereaved, living in Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham

Lullaby Trust
Close

Lullaby Trust

T. 0808 802 6868

W. http://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/

The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.

Muslim Bereavement Support Service
Close

Muslim Bereavement Support Service

T. 020 3468 7333

W. https://www.ataloss.org/faqs/muslim-bereavement-support-service

The Muslim Bereavement Support Service supports Muslim women who are facing bereavement and/or are bereaved. They will speak with Muslim men and signpost them to appropriate bereavement support. 

Stillbirth and neonatal death
Close

Stillbirth and neonatal death

T. 0808 164 3332

W. https://www.sands.org.uk/

Stillbirth and neonatal death (Sands) is the leading stillbirth and neonatal death charity in the UK. They ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby receives the best possible care and support for as long as they need it. 

Sands provides bereavement support services both nationally through its Freephone helpline, mobile app, online community and resources, and locally through a UK-wide network of around 100 regional support groups. 

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Foundation
Close

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Foundation

W. https://sudc.org/

The Foundation is a worldwide organisation, American based, whose purpose is to promote awareness, fund research and serve those affected by sudden unexplained death of children.

Sue Ryder Grief Support
Close

Online expert information provides ways to deal with the practical and emotional issues after someone has died.

The online Bereavement Community is a place to share experiences, get things off your chest and chat to people who understand.

Grief Guide is a safe space, free from other distractions where you can find self-help tools and information to help you cope with grief.

Talk to a qualified counsellor by video, up to 6 online sessions, at times that suit you speak from the comfort of your own home.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Close

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide

T. 0300 111 5065

W. https://uksobs.org/

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide are a national charity providing dedicated support to adults who have been bereaved by suicide. The volunteers come from all walks of life but nearly all have been touched by suicide themselves, this experience enables them to connect with others.

The Bereavement Journey
Close

The Bereavement Journey runs an online course three times per year for anyone in the UK who isn’t able to access an in-person course near to where they live, or who would prefer an online course.

The Compassionate Friends
Close

The Compassionate Friends

T. 0345 123 2304

W. https://www.tcf.org.uk/

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause.

Get support using the telephone helpline or online support groups.

The Good Grief Trust
Close

The Good Grief Trust helps all those affected by grief in the UK and brings bereavement services together, to ensure that everyone receives the tailored support they need to move forward with their lives.

The trust is run by the bereaved, for the bereaved and aim to normalise grief and raise awareness of the impact of grief on a national platform. 

 

Widowed and young
Close

Widowed and young

T. 0300 201 0051

W. http://www.widowedandyoung.org.uk/

Widowed and young (WAY) is a UK charity that offers a peer-to-peer support network for anyone who's lost a partner before their 51st birthday – married or not, with or without children, inclusive of sexual orientation, gender, race and religion.

Young lives vs Cancer
Close

Young lives vs Cancer

W. https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/

Young lives vs Cancer support young people under 25 with cancer, and their families, to get the help they need during their cancer treatment and beyond, including bereaved families living with emotional distress. 

Young Minds
Close

Young Minds is a national charity which supports both young people, their parents and loved ones through loss.

Bereavement services to support children

At a Loss
Close

Bereavement support for all ages including children.

Bereavement Support available with a bereavement counsellor online: https://www.ataloss.org/live-chat

Bereavement Advice Centre
Close

Bereavement Advice Centre

W. https://www.bereavementadvice.org/

Bereavement Advice Centre provides practical help when you need it most. They support and advise people on what they need to do after a death.

Bereavement Support at Royal Trinity Hospice
Close

Bereavement Support at Royal Trinity Hospice

T. 020 7787 1000

W. https://www.royaltrinityhospice.london/bereavement-support

The Bereavement team supports family members, friends, children and carers through the emotional impact of grief. The support is available to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one who was cared for by the Hospice. 

The Bereavement team offer support specifically for children and guidance to parents on how to explain death and grief to children.

Child Bereavement Network
Close

Child Bereavement Network

W. https://childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/

The Childhood Bereavement Network (CBN) is the hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families across the UK. Support is provided by the network members.

Child Bereavement Service at St. John's Hospice
Close

Child Bereavement Service at St. John's Hospice

T. 020 7078 3840

W. https://www.stjohnshospice.org.uk/our-care/bereavement-support/

The Child Bereavement Service is a free service provided by a specialist social work team with a long track record of providing practical and emotional support to individuals and families before and after a bereavement.

Child Bereavement UK
Close

Child Bereavement UK

T. 0800 02 888 40

W. https://www.childbereavementuk.org/

Offer a telephone support service for bereaved young people up to age 25, their families/ carers or individuals or families who have lost a child. 

The support team is available to respond to calls, Live Chat or email from 9.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.

Child Death Helpline
Close

Child Death Helpline

T. 0800 282 986

W. http://childdeathhelpline.org.uk/

Child Death Helpline is operated by a dedicated team of volunteers who are all bereaved parents. The helpline provides support to a parent who has lost a child of any age, under any circumstances, and however recently or long ago, we’re here to help. They also offer support to grandparents, siblings and the extended family, as well as professionals who have been impacted by the death of a child.

CRUSE Bereavement care
Close

CRUSE Bereavement care

T. 0808 808 1677

W. http://www.cruse.org.uk/

CRUSE Bereavement care helps people through bereavement with support, information and campaigning.

Grief Encounter
Close

Grief Encounter is a national charity offering a free helpline and online support for children and young people wishing to access bereavement support.

They also offers counselling support in classrooms, online or at their premises in North London. A referral form is available on their website.

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service
Close

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service

T. 020 8951 3881

W. https://jbcs.org.uk/

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service has counsellors that understand the specific issues raised by bereavement within a Jewish context. This service is sensitive, aware and knowledgeable about social, cultural and religious needs.

Kensington and Chelsea CRUSE Bereavement care
Close

Kensington and Chelsea CRUSE Bereavement care

T. 020 8964 3455

W. https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/contactsdirectory/az.aspx?OrgId=454

The Kensington and Chelsea Branch of CRUSE provides local support by counselling to those who have been bereaved, living in Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham

The Good Grief Trust
Close

The Good Grief Trust helps all those affected by grief in the UK and brings bereavement services together, to ensure that everyone receives the tailored support they need to move forward with their lives.

The trust is run by the bereaved, for the bereaved and aim to normalise grief and raise awareness of the impact of grief on a national platform. 

 

Winston's Wish
Close

Winston's Wish

T. 08088 020 021

W. https://www.winstonswish.org

Winston's Wish is a national charity offering a free helpline and online support for children and young people wishing to access bereavement support.

They also provide resources and further training for schools and healthcare professions.

Young lives vs Cancer
Close

Young lives vs Cancer

W. https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/

Young lives vs Cancer support young people under 25 with cancer, and their families, to get the help they need during their cancer treatment and beyond, including bereaved families living with emotional distress. 

Young Minds
Close

Young Minds is a national charity which supports both young people, their parents and loved ones through loss.

Support with advance care planning

Marie Curie
Close

Marie Curie

T. 0800 090 2309

W. https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/

Marie Curie provide support for patients and carers through terminal illness.

Find information and support through the telephone helpline and online chat via their website.

Other services include Marie Curie nurses, Hospice care, helper and companion services.

Young Minds
Close

Young Minds is a national charity which supports both young people, their parents and loved ones through loss.

Related Articles

7th October 2024

Organ Donation

Feedback