Bereavement services | Royal Derby Hospital | University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS

Bereavement services at Royal Derby Hospital

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The Bereavement Service provides a sensitive, empathetic approach to the individual needs of relatives, at a time of loss.

Our Bereavement Service provides support and information for bereaved families when a patient has died in hospital. The team will liaise with the family to provide the medical certificate, co-ordinate cremation forms where appropriate, hand over property where required and give advice on registration and arranging funerals where there is no next of kin.

Issuing the medical certificate

In most cases, we will be able to issue a medical certificate, indicating the cause of death, which should be collected from the Bereavement Service. To arrange collection, please telephone the Bereavement Service on the day following death or for deaths occurring during the weekend, please telephone on the next working day.

Referrals to the coroner

When we are unable to provide a medical certificate, the death will be referred to the Coroner and relatives 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 to see the Registrar at the hospital where the patient died (Royal Derby Hospital). Alternatively, the registration can be completed at the Derby Register Office.

To book a registration appointment at the Royal Derby Hospital:

Telephone:

Text:

Book an appointment online: www.directtoyou.derby.gov.uk

Information and support

Our leaflet ‘A practical guide about what to do when someone has died’ is available to relatives and provides useful and helpful information, at what is often a difficult and distressing time.

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

www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk

Compassionate Friends

Telephone: 01283 073 2161

www.tcf.org.uk

The Laura Centre (for children and when a child dies)

Telephone: 01332 408 026

www.thelauracentrederby.org.uk

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.