Issuu

Mid and South Essex

NHS Foundation Trust

Bereavement Services

Author: Bereavement Services Issue date: July 2026 - Review date: April 2027 Version 8 Ref no. PILCOM1554 Broomfield Hospital

When tomorrow starts without me, and I am not here to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes, filled with tears for me. I wish so much you would not cry, the way you did today, While thinking of the many things, we did not get to say. I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, and each time you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too. When tomorrow starts without me, do not think we are far apart, for every time you think of me, I am right there in your heart.

~ David Romano

We would like to offer our sincere condolences to you and your family at this sad and difficult time.

The dandelion initiative was implemented as the hospitals commitment to improving end of life care. Our aim is to promote dignity in death by making small changes that will impact upon the patient and family experience in a positive manner.

This booklet has been produced to provide some practical help and advice during the early days of your bereavement.

The emotional meaning of the dandelion The dandelion has a surprising number of different meanings - it is known for its ability to thrive in difficult conditions. In medieval times the blowing of the white seeds would grant the person a wish.We associate this “wish” with the need to know what is important to people at the end of life. The yellow flower of the dandelion symbolizes the ability to rise above life’s challenges and can be used as a visual reminder of the warmth and power of the sun, especially when grief makes it hard to remain happy.

Index What happens next? ...........................................................1 Tissue donation....................................................................2 Visiting the Dandelion Suite..................................................4 Medical Examiner & Bereavement Nurse role.....................5 Hospital Chaplaincy..............................................................7 HM Coroner..........................................................................8 Hospital Post-Mortem...........................................................9 Registering the death.........................................................10 Stopping junk mail to the deceased...................................14 Probate and legal advice....................................................15 Property..............................................................................15 Funeral arrangements........................................................16 Feedback and concerns.....................................................18 Death of a newborn baby or child death.............................19 Honouring the memory of your loved one through charitable donations...........................................................20 Support and comfort...........................................................21 Registration offices.............................................................23

What happens next? You will need to make an initial phone call to the Bereavement Office between 10am and 4pm (weekdays) on 0300 443 0117. One of our Bereavement Officers will take some details from the nominated representative, this is usually the person responsible for arranging the funeral. The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is required to be completed by a doctor, who treated the deceased within their lifetime, and can establish the cause of death. They will be familiar with the patient’s medical history, investigations and treatments while they were in hospital. When the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is completed, it will be sent via email to the central Registration Service. You will be given a certified copy once you attend your face-to- face registration appointment. This process should be completed within 2 working days and is dependent upon the availability of the doctor, who is responsible for the completion of the required documentation. Please note if the death occurred overnight the Bereavement Team will start the process the next working day. In some circumstances it may be necessary for the doctor to refer the death to HM Coroner. A referral to HM Coroner does not automatically mean a post-mortem is required and many referrals are resolved with minimal delay. We advise that a date for the funeral should not be booked until you have registered the death.

Tissue donation If the person who has died carried a donor card or had previously expressed a decision to donate tissue, we want to ensure that their wishes are honoured. We acknowledge families may not think about this at the time, but may find it comforting that something positive can happen at a time of great sadness. Donated tissue such as corneas, bone, skin and heart valves can significantly improve the quality of life for people in need. Our hospitals now operate a corneal donation scheme, and all deaths are screened by the Bereavement Office to assess eligibility for corneal donation. If the person is suitable, a member of the team will contact the family to discuss whether they would like to proceed. We also check the NHS Organ Donor Register to see if a decision has been registered. If the family agrees to corneal donation, a referral is made to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). A specialist nurse will then contact the family to complete a medical and social history questionnaire before donation can take place. Corneal donation must occur within 24 hours of death. We understand that the 24 hour timeframe for corneal donation can feel too soon, especially when there is so much to take in after a loss. Families often have many emotions with practical decisions to manage and it is completely natural to feel unsure or overwhelmed. The Bereavement Team will always approach these conversations with sensitivity and compassion, and there is no pressure to decide. Our role is simply to offer the opportunity, answer

any questions and support you in making the choice that feels right for you and honour your loved one’s wishes. Your loved one may also be suitable for other forms of tissue donation, NHSBT will discuss this directly with the next of kin and seek consent if they wish to proceed. Tissue donation is different from solid organ donation and can take place after death. If you would like further advice or have questions, the Bereavement Team can support you. You may also contact the National Referral Centre’s specialist team on 0800 432 0559.

Visiting the Dandelion Suite Although we endeavour to consider all requests to visit your loved one in the Dandelion Suite, this may not always be possible and remains at the Mortuary Manager’s discretion. Please contact the Bereavement Office in the first instance, if this is something you would like to request. MSE Hospitals request this is restricted to 2 family members and is only permissible if you did not have the opportunity to visit the ward or department at the time of death. Family visits are not available once the Funeral Director has been appointed and the paperwork for the release of the deceased is complete. We advise you to contact your Funeral Director to visit your loved one, once arrangements have been made to transfer from the hospital into their care. A request to visit can be arranged Monday to Friday by appointment only, via the following contact numbers: Broomfield Bereavement Office – 0300 443 0117 Broomfield Mortuary Department – 0300 443 0381 If your loved one has been referred to the coroners, please contact the mortuary department and ensure that you have the coroners’ case reference number to hand.

Medical Examiner & Bereavement Nurse role Medical Examiner The purpose of the service is to give an independent view on causes of death and the care and treatment provided. Medical Examiners review all deaths apart from those that need to be investigated by the coroner, and they are required by regulations to make all enquiries they consider relevant. The service was implemented across the NHS in England with the aim of improving death certification and ensuring that the bereaved are kept at the centre of the process. By introducing this service, the NHS aims to provide an opportunity for the bereaved to ask questions about the cause of death and discuss the care that their loved one received prior to their death. Who are Medical Examiners and Medical Examiner Officers? Medical Examiners (MEs) are senior NHS doctors, who have completed specialist training, and who are independent of the healthcare professionals that looked after the deceased. Their role is part of the Statutory Death Certification Process introduced on 9 September 2024. Medical Examiner Officers (MEOs) work with Medical Examiners. They assist the MEs and help answer queries from the bereaved and can discuss any concerns they may have. They support the MEs in their role of scrutinising the circumstances leading to and cause of death. They are a point of contact and source of advice for the bereaved.

The Medical Examiner process The Medical Examiner will review the medical records and discuss the care with the medical team who were looking after the deceased. This is to ensure that when completing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), the document accurately reflects the details of the cause of death. Medical Examiners or Medical Examiner Officers will get in touch to ask if you would like to have a conversation about the cause of death and they will answer questions and listen to any concerns you may have regarding the care they received. The Medical Examiner or Medical Examiner Officer will explain the reasoning behind the cause of death and explain what is written on the official form. They will ask you if you have any questions or concerns about the proposed cause of death. In some situations, the death of your loved one, by law, may need to be referred to the Coroner’s Office for further investigation. The MEO will arrange for the referral to be completed and support you through the process. If you would like the opportunity to speak with a Medical Examiner, please contact: 0300 443 0364 you will then be given 3 options: Option 1 – Broomfield Medical Examiner Office Option 2 – Southend Medical Examiner Office Option 3 – Basildon Medical Examiner Office Or email: mse.broomfield.meoffice@nhs.net

Bereavement Clinical Nurse Specialist Our Bereavement Nurse Specialists can support families who may be experiencing difficulties with their loss and can signpost you to the relevant specialist supportive services. If you would like the opportunity to speak with a Bereavement Clinical Nurse Specialist, you can contact them via email on mse.bereavementnurses@nhs.net or telephone the relevant site Bereavement Office.

Hospital Chaplaincy The Hospital Chaplains are available to offer care and support to bereaved relatives and friends. This care is offered irrespective of the individual’s religion or belief. Specific religious needs can also be supported by the Chaplaincy Team or Local Faith Community Leaders. The Chaplains are available during normal office hours to provide you with support, but for urgent end of life care, can also be contacted out of hours via the hospital switchboard. If you would like your loved one’s name written in the hospital memorial book, please complete and return the insert included in the bereavement pack. The Chaplaincy Service can be contacted as follows: Broomfield Hospital Chaplains - 0300 443 0350 Email: mse.broomfieldchaplains@nhs.net

HM Coroner There are specific circumstances, when the hospital doctor is required by law to report the death to HM Coroner. This may include the cause of death being unclear, sudden, or suspicious or due to unnatural causes. The medical examiner officer will discuss this with you. Whilst the bereavement staff will be able to provide you with information relating to the hospital’s procedures following the death of a patient, it is not possible for them to influence any processes, where the offices of the coroner are involved. HM Coroner is an independent judicial office holder, appointed and paid by the relevant local authority. HM Coroner is a doctor or lawyer, who has a legal responsibility for establishing the time, date, place, and cause of death and any circumstances that may have contributed to the death. To achieve this HM Coroner may in some circumstances, request for a post-mortem examination to be carried out. Occasionally a specialist post-mortem may be required. If this is the case, it may be necessary to move the deceased to another hospital. This would only occur under the instruction of the Coroner’s Office. The Coroner’s Officer is available Monday to Friday during office hours and can be contacted on 0333 0135 000.

Hospital post-mortem There are occasions when the clinical team involved in the care of the patient, may ask for your consent to carry out a hospital post-mortem examination. Even when the doctors know the cause of death, they may make a request for a hospital post-mortem, to gain further knowledge about the illness. Unlike a Coroner’s postmortem, this can only be done with the agreement of the nominated representative and after a consent form has been signed. The Bereavement Team would be happy to advise, should you have any queries.

Registering the death When do I need to register a death? It is a legal requirement to register a death within 5 days, once Registration Services have received the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, sent to them by the Medical Examiners team. If the death is being investigated by The Coroner this might not be possible. Visit www.gov.uk/after-a-death/when-adeath-is-reported-to-a-coroner to find out more about this process. You must make an appointment to register a death. Some Essex Registry Offices are listed in the back of this book. Who can register a death? The death can be registered by a relative of the person who has died. If a relative is not able to then someone else can register the death if: • They were there at time of death. • They are an administrator at the hospital or care home where the person has died • They oversee making funeral arrangements for the person

What do I need to register a death? You no longer need to attend the hospital to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. It will be sent electronically to The Registrar by the Medical Examiner Team. Once this has been completed you will then be able to book a face-to-face appointment to register the death. You will also need: • The person’s NHS number • The person’s birth certificate, if possible • The name, email, and address of your funeral director The registrar will ask for the person’s: • • • • • •

Date and place of death Full name (any other names they used or maiden name) Home address and postcode Date and place of birth Deceased’s last occupation Their spouse’s full name and occupation (if applicable)

How to book an appointment You or someone you know can book yourself an appointment online: www.essex.gov.uk/register-a-death Follow the self-service form and book a convenient appointment. If you do not have internet access, you may call on 0345 603 7632.

Due to the high volume of telephone calls received, it is advised that you use the webpage if you can. The webpage explains the process. Certificates Make sure you order enough certificates. You will need these when you are arranging the finances of the person who has died and may need to give them to banks, insurance, pension companies and to the executor of the will. All certificates are chargeable, and prices are subject to change. Once the death has been registered you will receive: • The death certificates you paid for when you booked the appointment. • A certificate for burial or cremation (known as the ‘Green Form’) - this gives permission for burial or an application for cremation. • Access details so you can use the ‘Tell Us Once’ service (this will reduce the number of certificates you need and the number of calls you have to make, to inform government related services about the death). If you have not paid for any certificates in advance, you can order certificates online from the Essex Record website: www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk/services/certificate-copies

‘Tell Us Once’ A registrar will explain the ‘Tell Us Once’ service when you register the death. They will either complete the ‘Tell Us Once’ service with you or give you a unique reference number so you can use the service yourself online or by phone. You must use the service within 28 days of getting your unique reference number. If you cannot register the death because an inquest is underway, you can still ask a registrar for a unique reference number. You will need to get an interim death certificate from the coroner holding the inquest first. They will notify: • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) - to deal with personal tax and to cancel benefits and credits, for example child benefit and tax credits. • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - to cancel benefits and entitlements, for example universal credit or state pension. • The Passport Office - to cancel a British passport. • The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) - to cancel a licence, remove the person as the keeper of up to 5 vehicles and end the vehicle tax.

• the local council - to cancel housing benefit, council tax reduction (sometimes called council tax support), a blue badge, inform council housing services and remove the person from the electoral register. • Veterans UK - to cancel or update armed forces compensation scheme payments. For full list and further information please go to: www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-tocontact-and-tell-us-once

Stopping junk mail to the recently deceased Receiving unsolicited mail can be insensitive and upsetting during the grieving process. You can register with the FREE service www.stopmail.co.uk If you do not have use of the internet, you can call 0333 006 8114. This free of charge service is provided by the Bereavement Support Network. Alternatively, you can use other comparable services such as The Bereavement Register or The Deceased Preference Service.

Probate and legal advice If you have any difficulty in dealing with the deceased’s property, possessions, or guardianship of their children, you can get advice from a solicitor or The Citizens Advice Bureau soon as possible. If there is no will, speaking with a solicitor may be helpful. Many solicitors are prepared to offer up to half an hour of legal advice for a small fee; some even offer a free initial consultation to discuss your situation. Probate is a document issued by the probate registry confirming that an executor has the right to wind up the estate of the person who has died. The ‘estate’ is the house, money and savings left by someone when they die (probate may not be necessary if the estate is small). The executor is the person chosen in the will to sort out the estate and make sure the conditions of the will are carried out. For further information on probate and inheritance please contact the helpline or visit the website below: Helpline: 0300 123 1072 Website: www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate Property Personal belongings should be collected by the nominated representative. All personal possessions will be returned to you by the ward as soon as possible after the death. Where this does not happen, the items will be temporarily kept by the ward until arrangements have been made between the ward and nominated representative regarding collection. 15

Funeral arrangements When you make initial contact with the Bereavement Team, they will talk to you about making funeral arrangements. To assist the team to ensure all legal documentation is completed in a timely manner, you may be asked if you have thought about appointing a Funeral Director and whether you have considered a burial or cremation for your loved one. Whilst we acknowledge that you may not have thought about this on first contact, you will need to make the Bereavement Team aware prior to registration; this will allow them to liaise with the Funeral Directors and ensure your loved one is transferred into their care at the earliest opportunity. You may find it helpful to make provisional arrangements with a Funeral Director of your choice, but please do not book a firm date, until the death has been registered. We request that Funeral Directors collect each patient within three working days of being formally engaged by families and being notified by us that all required documentation is in place. Funeral Directors charge for their services once you have appointed them and have agreed a contract. They can advise and support you with funeral arrangements and will discuss arrangements for the care and accommodation of your loved one whilst they remain at the hospital. While resting with Mid and South Essex Hospitals, your loved one will be cared for, either in one of our onsite accommodations at Basildon, Southend or Broomfield Hospitals, or at one of our offsite accommodation facilities. 16

We strongly encourage you to ask the Funeral Directors to provide you with a clear guide of the services they provide and what fees might be incurred. Your loved one, will remain in the care of our mortuary team until the registration process has been completed or, if HM Coroner is involved, the coroner has finished their investigation. In extenuating circumstances and in agreement with the mortuary manager, it may be possible for your Funeral Director to request an early release from the hospital and to transfer your loved one to the funeral directors, prior to registration. For further information, regarding fees, please discuss these with your Funeral Director. For any other questions, The Bereavement Team will be happy to advise. If you are currently receiving income support or other benefits, you may be entitled to financial help with funeral expenses. The DWP will be glad to answer any general enquiries.

Feedback and concerns As a trust we are committed to ensuring that families can feedback their end-of-life experience. Please scan the QR code to complete a bereavement survey about your experience.

Alternatively visit: https://forms.office.com/r/EwbUqaxrT1 If you would like a paper copy, or an easy read version, of this survey sent to you please speak to your bereavement office.

Death of a newborn baby or child death It is a statutory requirement for all child deaths under the age of 18 years to be referred to the Child Death Review Team (CDRT) to meet requirements under the Children’s Act 2004. This applies to natural, unnatural, known, or unknown causes, at home, in hospital or in the community. Support and guidance will be given by the CDRT or by the hospital Maternity Bereavement Team. If this death has occurred before the birth has been registered (newborn baby), the birth will still need to be registered within 42 days using the information previously given. You should call the registry office on the central registration number to book an appointment. To avoid repeated and upsetting conversations, please ensure you inform the registry office that you are registering the birth, but the baby has died. The Children’s Funeral Fund for England can help to pay for some of the costs of a funeral for a child under 18 or a baby stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy. It is not means-tested: what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get. The burial or cremation must take place in England. For more information, please visit www.gov.uk/child-funeral-costs

Honouring the memory of your loved one through charitable donations You may wish to consider donating to Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity. The donation will be used within our hospitals to benefit services provided to our patients and their families. If you chose to make a dedicated donation for the care and support received during the bereavement process, you may wish to make an ‘in memory’ donation to our Bereavement Fund which supports the Bereavement Service. To donate to the Bereavement Fund or to make another charitable donation, please contact Mid and South Essex Hospital Charity on 0300 443 0052 or email. mse.charity@nhs.net Registration number 1057266

Support and comfort Some people find it helps to share their sadness; others find it extremely hard to talk about the person who died. You may wish to seek help and support from any of the national groups and organisations which are detailed below. For help with locating local resources, please contact the bereavement office. Citizens Advice Bureau 0800 144 8848 www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Inheritance Tax & Probate (for wills & estates) 0300 123 1072 www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate

Cruse Bereavement Support Line 0808 808 1677 www.cruse.org.uk

National LGBTQIA+ support line 0800 0119 100 www.switchboard.lgbt

Samaritans 116 123 www.samaritans.org

No Panic Helpline 0300 772 9844 www.nopanic.org.uk Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) 0300 111 5065 www.uksobs.com

WAY Widowed & Young Self-help support for men and women under 50 whose partner or spouse has died. www.widowedandyoung.org.uk

SANDS (Stillbirth and neonatal death charity) Helpline 0808 164 3332 helpline@sands.org.uk www.sands.org.uk

Child Bereavement UK Helpline: 0800 02 888 40 www.childbereavementuk.org

Support after Murder & Manslaughter (SAMM) 0121 472 2912 www.samm.org.uk

Department for Work and Pensions 0800 731 7898 www.dwp.gov.uk

Support Line For children, young people & adults. 01708 765200 www.supportline.org.uk The Compassionate Friends Kilburn Grange, Priory Park Road, London NW6 7UJ Befriending for bereaved parents telephone helpline Helpline 0345 123 2304 10am - 4pm & 7pm - 10pm, each day www.tcf.org.uk The Good Grief Trust Bereavement resources under one umbrella. www.thegoodgrieftrust.org

Registration Offices Chelmsford Registration Office Chelmsford Library Market Road Chelmsford CM1 1GE Tel: 0345 603 7632 Other Essex Registry Offices Benfleet: South Benfleet Library 264 High Road Benfleet Essex SS7 5HD Billericay: Burghstead Lodge 143 High Street Billericay CM12 9AB Braintree: Braintree Library Fairfield Road Braintree Essex CM7 3YL Brentwood: Brentwood Library New Road Brentwood Essex CM14 4BP Castle Point & Rochford (Benfleet): Rochford Library 8 Roche Close Rochford SS4 1PX

Chelmsford: Chelmsford Library County Hall Market Road Chelmsford Essex CM1 1GE Colchester: Colchester Library 21 Trinity Square Colchester Essex C01 1JB Epping Forest: Epping Library St John’s Road Epping CM16 5DN Great Dunmow: Great Dunmow Library 47 White Hart Way Great Dunmow CM6 1FS

Harlow: Harlow Library Cross Street Harlow Essex CM20 1HA Maldon: Carmelite House White Horse Lane Maldon CM9 5FW Rayleigh: Rayleigh Library 132-134 High Street Rayleigh SS6 7BX Uttlesford: The Council Offices London Road Saffron Walden CB11 4ER Witham: Witham Library 18 Newland Street Witham CM8 2AQ

The hospital does not endorse any of the products or services that are advertised in this booklet. However, we wish to thank the advertisers and sponsors, without whom this publication would not have been possible.

The Hospital would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from services offering their help at this time. Whilst the Hospital is grateful of their support it does not endorse or recommend any of the services that they provide. Please note, whilst information is correct at the time of publication, this may be subject to future change.

STOPPING JUNK MAIL If someone you know has died, we can reduce the amount of unwanted marketing post being sent to them, stopping painful daily reminders. By registering with our free service, the names and addresses of the deceased are removed from mailing lists, stopping most advertising mail within as little as six weeks.

Call: 0333 006 8114 OR

Visit our website: www.stopmail.co.uk bereavement support network stop mail

here to help

Calls are charged at standard landline rates. Calls from mobiles are included in inclusive call packages. © Bereavement Support Network Ltd 2026

Do you need help with

Probate? You may need help, support or advice on what to do when someone dies in relation to probate. It may not always appear obvious if it will be required.

Call: 0333 240 0360 We offer free guidance on the legal and financial aspects of bereavement including your responsibilities and whether probate is required. You may need to establish whether a property is held in joint names or tenants in common, we can perform a simple check at no cost to establish the title deeds. Connecting you with managed and D.I.Y. Probate Solutions

This service is provided by

bereavement

Calls are charged at standard landline rates. Calls from mobiles are included in inclusive call packages.

support network here to help

Probate Solutions for cars The death of a family member can be a very difficult and traumatic experience and if you are trying to sell a vehicle that belonged to a deceased family member or friend you currently have limited options. Auto Matters makes things very simple without you having to leave your home. Our free service helps to overcome all of these problems. We will provide payment to yourself, an executor or a solicitor before we move the vehicle.

To get a valuation of the car, please visit www.automatters.co.uk or call 0333 006 2904

AM AutoMatters Funded by

The Bereavement Support Network

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