Bereavement services at Royal Derby Hospital
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Bereavement services at Royal Derby Hospital
The Bereavement service provides a sensitive, empathetic approach to the individual needs of relatives, at a time of loss.
When you lose someone you love, it can be a devastating experience. Grief is unique and only you know how you are feeling. You may feel unsure about the practical things that you now have to do. We are here to help you through this.
Our Bereavement service provides support and information for bereaved people when a patient has died in hospital. The team will liaise with them to provide the medical certificate, co-ordinate cremation forms where appropriate, and give advice on registration. The team will also provide advice on arranging funerals where there is no next of kin.
When someone has died, a medical certificate will be issued or the death will be referred to the coroner. Our staff will advise you which will apply, and provide details on what will happen next.
Contact the Bereavement service at the Royal Derby Hospital
Royal Derby Hospital
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 8NE
The office is open Monday to Friday between 8:30am - 4:30pm.
Telephone
During busy periods your call may be diverted to an answer machine. Please leave a message with your contact details and we will return your call at the earliest opportunity.
Out of Hours
On call manager: via switchboard
Mortuary: via switchboard 01332 340 131
Registrar: via switchboard 01332 340 131
Coroner via switchboard 01332 340 131
Medical Examiner
All trusts are required to have a Medical Examiner system in place by 1 April 2020, which provides a greater level of scrutiny for all deaths that occur in the hospital. The purpose of the medical examiner system will be to:
- ensure greater scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths
- ensure that appropriate direction of deaths to the Coroner
- have a better service for the bereaved and an opportunity to raise any concerns to a doctor not involved in the care of the deceased
- improve the quality of death certification
- improve the quality of mortality data
Email: uhdb.medicalexaminersoffice@nhs.net
Telephone: 01332 786025
Issuing the medical certificate
In most cases, we will be able to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), indicating the cause of death. You will be advised whether we are able to issue an MCCD or not, or if a coroners referral is required. Once an MCCD has been issued by the hospital, you will not need to collect from the hospital. Since Covid-19 regulations came in, hospitals send MCCDs to registrars electronically. This is continuing even now Covid-19 regulations have ended. Once the MCCD has been shared with the registrar, a registration of death can take place.
Please be aware, that the paperwork required may take over 24 hours to be processed, and you may be asked to call back at a later time. However please be assured we will do everything we can to get this completed as quickly as possible for you.
Referrals to the coroner
When we are unable to provide a medical certificate, the death will be referred to the coroner and you will be advised when to contact the coroner’s office.
How a death is registered
When the hospital has issued a medical certificate the death should be registered within five days. An appointment can be made with the Derby Register Service - 01332 641680.
To book a registration appointment at the Royal Derby Hospital:
Telephone:
Text:
Information and support
The leaflet below is available to relatives and provides useful and helpful information, at what is often a difficult and distressing time.
A practical guide about what to do when someone has died (opens in a new window) >
The Macmillan Cancer Information Centre > provides information in a supportive environment for anyone seeking advice in relation to cancer or palliative care issues.
We have a specialist bereavement midwife who is able to provide support and advice to parents and families following the death of a baby during pregnancy.
The bereavement midwife can be contacted via the Royal Derby Hospital Switchboard on 01332 340 131.
Independent counselling and support services
Counselling and support services are available independently. Local organisations include:
Cruse Bereavement Care
Telephone: 01332 332 098
Visit the Cruse Bereavement Care website (opens in new window) >
Compassionate Friends
Telephone: 01283 073 2161
Visit the Compassionate Friends website (opens in new window) >
The Laura Centre (for children and when a child dies)
Telephone: 01332 408 026
Specialist bereavement midwives
Sadly, not every pregnancy has a happy outcome and some end in the loss of a much wanted baby. The role of the bereavement midwife is to provide immediate, long term sensitive care and support for families following a late pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal death.
Although the role of the bereavement midwife is hospital-based, they can see families at home giving help and guidance with the necessary practical requirements such as registering the death, funeral arrangements, supporting the family’s emotional needs and helping to create positive memories of their baby.
They are also on hand to provide advice, plans of care, and ongoing support for women in subsequent pregnancies where required.
Contact us
Angela Thompson
Specialist Bereavement Midwife
Telephone: 01332 789 791
Email: angela.thompson17@nhs.net
Feedback
We value your opinion.
Please accept our sympathies for your loss.
It is important to us that we provide the best possible care and support, not only for patients but also those whom they share their lives. We sincerely hope that we have been able to provide you and your loved one with the support and comfort you have needed at this time.
Our thoughts are with you at this time.
Feedback can help us understand what we are doing well and what we can improve upon for others who may be going through a similar experience.
We may ask you for an email address to send information to you and to also send you a link to our survey. Alternatively you can complete our survey below.
Visit the Survey Monkey website and complete the bereavement survey (opens in a new window) >