In times of bereavement it can be extremely difficult to know what to do next. At Dr Singh's Surgery all staff are there to help support you. There are many places where help is available and links to some of the most useful websites including services in Hounslow are listed below.
You can access the bereavement support online or you can call the confidential bereavement support line, operated by Hospice UK, on 0300 303 4434. This is free to access from 8am – 8pm, seven days a week.
If Death Occurs At Home
- Contact a funeral director.
- Arrange to collect the doctor’s Medical Certificate of Death (usually from the surgery).
- Take this certificate to the Registrar’s Office, (together with the deceased’s Medical Card and Birth Certificate, if available) for the area in which the death took place. Alternatively you can register by declaration at any convenient Registrar’s Office but certificates will not be available as these will have to be posted to you a few days later.
- The Registrar will normally issue a green coloured certificate for you to give to your funeral director who will look after necessary arrangements for the funeral. The Registrar will also issue a white notification certificate for the DSS. They will also enquire as to the number of Certified Copies you require for dealing with the deceased finances (a fee is payable for each copy).
If The Death Occurs In Hospital
- Contact a funeral director to inform him his services are required.
- Collect the certificate from the hospital then follow 3-4 as above.
Note For Cremation
Your funeral director will usually liaise directly with the surgery regarding the additional certification required.
Services
Counselling and other services are available at The Mulberry Centre, especially if the deceased and family have been affected by Cancer
Cruse Bereavement Care this includes the national Cruse helpline 0808 808 1677
For children and young people who may be affected Hope Again offer support and advice
Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. When you register the death the registrar will let you know if the service is available in your area, give you the phone number, give you a unique reference number to use the Tell Us Once service online or by phone.
When someone dies by suicide, it reaches out across the community like ripples on a pond. Families and friends are devastated – and many more people are touched. Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide is a support service which offers helpful advice.
Macmillan Cancer Support offers practical advice and support.