Bereavement - Hospital Faith Deaths

How we support the quick release of your loved one when they have died

If someone close to you has died, we understand this is a deeply difficult and emotional time. We are very sorry for your loss.

When a person dies in our care, we are committed to providing dignity, respect and sensitivity. We aim to support the faith and cultural needs of your loved one and your family, and we will always be guided by you and family members.

While we strive to meet urgent requests for quick release of your loved one, there may be at times when immediate arrangements are not possible. If so, we will explain the reason to you.

To help you carry out your loved one’s faith practices as promptly as possible, this leaflet explains what to expect and how we can support you.

The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Team are available to offer religious, spiritual and pastoral care during this challenging time.

There are mandatory legal requirements that we must follow to ensure the correct cause of death.

When someone dies from an expected or natural cause in England and Wales, the Medical Examiner’s Service must independently review the death before the doctor can complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). This is a legal requirement.

By law, a doctor must check how someone died before a death certificate is issued.
 
Medical Examiners review the medical records and speak with the team who cared for your loved one. This helps ensure that every death, whether in hospital or in the community, has the correct cause of death recorded.

When a death is sudden or unexpected, the law requires that it be referred to the Coroner, who is responsible for determining the cause of death. In some cases, even an expected death must also be referred so that legal requirements can be met. If a referral is needed, this will be explained to you fully and you will be given the opportunity to ask questions.

The Medical Examiners’ hours of work are:

8am - 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

9.30am - 11.30am (Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays excluding Christmas Day and Easter Sunday).

Religious or cultural requests to expedite (speed up) the process will be reviewed as a priority. If this is outside of normal working hours, then your loved one’s death will be prioritised the next working day.

For further information and support please visit

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services/ bereavement-service

This service provides an empathetic approach to the individual needs of bereaved relatives at a time of loss.

The next steps:

1. Death of your loved one - Your loved one dies whilst on the ward. The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Team can offer support and guidance for all deaths.
2. Medical Examiner's (ME) documentation - The Attending Practitioner (AP) completes and sends a referral to the ME office.
3. Case Review - Case arrives at the ME office and reviewed.
4. Communication - Outcome of the review will be communicated to the AP, and the Medical Certification Cause of Death (MCCD) will be completed. Further discussion or agreement with proposed cause of death will take place.
5. Discussion - Further discussion may also be needed with the AP.
6. Completion - Once ME and AP reach an agreement on the cause of death, the ME will countersign MCCD. If changes need to be made, new MCCD will be completed and scanned to the ME office, where the ME will countersign. You will be contacted to discuss the cause of death and asked if there are any questions.
7. Registrars - Once counter-signed, the MCCD will be sent from the ME office to the Registrars. The ME will guide you to register the death.
8. Coroner - If the case needs to be referred to the Coroner, the ME office will inform the AP to complete a referral.
9. Funeral Directors/Mortuary team – Funeral Directors will arrange appointments with the mortuary team once the paperwork has been received (quick releases from Mortuary are from 8am to 8pm).

Glossary

Attending Practitioner - this is the medical doctor who oversaw the care of the patient prior to their death.

Coroners - are independent legal officers who investigate deaths reported to them. They will make necessary inquiries to find out the cause of death, this includes ordering a post-mortem examination, obtaining witness statements and medical records, or holding an inquest.

Medical Certification of Cause of Death - is the formal name for a death certificate.

Medical Examiner - this is the role of senior medical doctor who is trained in the legal and clinical elements of death certification processes.

Registrars - are based at the Civil Registration Service, their purpose is to create accurate and timely records of all births, stillbirths, deaths, marriages, and civil partnerships.

The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care team are available to offer support and guidance for all deaths during this challenging time.

The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Team can offer guidance on:

• Faith-based or cultural practices around the time of your loved one’s death
• Emotional support for you and your family
• Prayers, blessing and/or rituals if requested
• Helping you to find peace or understanding at a difficult time

Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Departments BRO (Bury, Rochdale & Oldham)

Bury and Rochdale - 0161 778 3568
Oldham - 0161 627 8796
Salford - 0161 206 5167

Urgent or Out of Hours Chaplaincy

When urgent please contact the hospital Switchboard and ask for the on-call Chaplain to be contacted.
Salford - 0161 789 7373
Oldham, Bury or Rochdale - 0161 624 0420

Bereavement Services Contacts

Working hours for the Bereavement team are 8am - 4pm.

On a weekend there is one Bereavement Nurse covering our four hospital sites, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford.

Please contact the hospital switchboard and ask for the Bereavement Nurse to be contacted.
Salford Hospital - 0161 789 7373
Oldham, Bury or Rochdale Hospitals - 0161 624 0420