What to do when someone dies...

This information is provided for guidance purposes - individual circumstances may differ.

An expected death at home or residential care home. 

• Contact the GP.
• The GP or on call doctor will attend and ascertain that death has occurred.
• Call the Funeral Director.
• The Funeral Director will transfer the deceased from the place of death to their premises.
• The GP will contact you to confirm when the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is ready for collection.
• Deliver the Green Registration Document to the Funeral Director.

  An expected death in a Hospital or Hospice

• The attending Doctor will ascertain that death has occurred.
• The Hospital will provide an information on what to do next.
• Call the Funeral Director.
• The Funeral Director will transfer the deceased from the Hospital to their premises.
• Contact the General Office/Patient Services to make arrangements to collect Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and any personal effects.
• Make an appointment with the Register Office to register the death.  ( See details on registering a death)
• Deliver the Green Registration Document to the Funeral Director.

  A sudden death

• Dial 999 and call for Police or medical assistance.
• The Police will call the duty Funeral Director to transfer the deceased from the place of death to the Hospital Mortuary.
• The Police will notify the Coroner that a Sudden Death has occurred.
• The Coroner will decide whether a Post Mortem examination will be ordered.  The Coroner’s Officer will liaise with you to keep you informed.
• Call the Funeral Director.
• The Funeral Director will liaise with the Coroner’s Office.
• If there is to be no Inquest the Coroner will send the documentation necessary to Register the Death directly to the Register Office.
• Make an appointment with the Register Office to register the death. 
• The Funeral Director will receive confirmation from the Coroner’s Office that the deceased may be released for the funeral to take place.  The Funeral Director will transfer the deceased from the Hospital Mortuary to their premises.
• If an inquest is ordered the Coroner will issue interim Death Certificates to you and will send the necessary documentation to the Funeral Director to enable the funeral to take place.  It will not be possible to register the death until the Inquest has taken place.
• When the inquest has taken place the Coroner will send the necessary documentation directly to the Register Office to enable you to register the Death.