Issuu

NHS University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Help and Care in Bereavement

Royal Bournemouth Hospital & Christchurch Hospital

Contents When Death Occurs

What to do first

Medical Examiner Office

Collection of personal property

Registering the Death

Arranging the Funeral

Who needs to be told about the death

The Coroner’s Office and Post Mortems

Wills and Probate

Donations for Medical Research

Grief: When Someone Dies

Stopping Junk Mail to the recently deceased

List of Local Funeral Directors

Help and Support

Questionnaire

May we offer our sympathy to you, your family and friends during this difficult time. This booklet is designed to provide practical advice and to help you with all the arrangements that need to be made. We hope that you will find it helpful during the next few days. It gives guidance on who can help and where further information can be obtained, as well as explaining procedures such as registering a death and arranging a funeral. The days following bereavement can be very difficult, but there are formalities which must be dealt with promptly.

When Death Occurs Phone Bereavement Services:

Contact Funeral Director

RBH 0300 019 4125/4152/5752/5653 after 10.00am the next working day

Attend appointment at the Register Office

Poole 0300 019 2673 Medical Examiner or Medical Examiner Officer will phone to discuss the proposed cause of death and any concerns or queries you may have. Bereavement Services will phone you when the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is ready and they will make an appointment with the Register Office for you. If the death occurs over a weekend or on a Bank Holiday the process of issuing the Certificate will not begin until the next working day.

What to do first Please telephone the Bereavement Service Office after 10.00am the next working day (except Bank Holidays) in order to speak to a Bereavement Officer who will take you through the next steps. We apologise if the telephone line is engaged for a long period, we may be talking to another bereaved family. We advise you do not set a date for the funeral until you have spoken to us. However, you can speak to a Funeral Director to begin making arrangements for the funeral. Bereavement Service Office RBH 0300 019 4152/4125/5752/5653 Bereavement Service Office Poole 0300 019 2673 Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am – 3.30pm The Bereavement Office RBH is located on the ground floor, West Wing in Orthopaedic Outpatients (opposite Ward 1). The Bereavement Office Poole is located in the front entrance to the side of Costa Coffee. Please do not come to the hospital without telephoning first and getting confirmation that all property is ready. We are unable to release property outside of these hours. Our office will be happy to help you with any queries.

Medical Examiner Office All deaths must be reviewed and the Certificate must be signed by a Medical Examiner. A Medical Examiner is a senior doctor who was not involved in the care of the patient previously. Their role is to independently review the care and circumstances prior to a patient’s death. The Medical Examiner’s Office will agree the information written on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), to ensure it is accurate. If a Coroner’s referral is required, the Office will ensure this is done appropriately and in a timely manner. A key part of the Medical Examiner’s Office is to discuss the cause of death with the bereaved. After all paperwork is completed, a member of the office will contact you to explain the MCCD and answer any questions you may have; they will also give you the opportunity to raise any concerns about the care given to the patient. Any feedback raised to the Office is appropriately passed on and may lead to further investigations. Once you’ve spoken with the Medical Examiner and they have signed the MCCD it will then be processed by the Medical Examiner’s Office. The MCCD will be passed to the Bereavement Services Team, and they will contact you to book an appointment to register the death. If a Coroner’s referral is required, a member of the Office will also contact you to discuss the reasons for the referral, along with the next steps, before sending the paperwork to HM Senior Coroner for Dorset.

Collection of personal property The personal property of the deceased may only be collected from the Bereavement Services Office by the following: •

A relative of the deceased

•

Executor of the Will

•

Funeral Director, with authorisation from the next of kin

•

Friend, with authorisation from the next of kin

•

A person arranging the funeral

When a person dies in hospital their property and valuables will be checked by two members of staff and then sent to the Bereavement/Property Office, where they are re-checked. The next of kin, or other person from the list, may collect the property from the Bereavement Services Office after phoning to confirm that all property is ready for collection.

Viewings If you would like to see your relative after they have been taken from the ward, limited viewing facilities are available in the hospital through the Bereavement Office. It is helpful for viewings to take place Mon-Fri between 10:00am – 3.00pm to enable us to provide the best support necessary at this time. If you require a viewing outside of these hours please contact the main hospital switchboard on 01202 303626 (Royal Bournemouth) or 01202 665511 (Poole) to speak to the Clinical Site Team who will be able to see if this can be arranged for you. The Bereavement Team is mindful of meeting the needs of deceased patients in a multi-cultural society and the requirements of different faiths. We have Chaplains available who support all faiths. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Bereavement Office. POST MORTEM – see page 19 If a Post Mortem is carried out the Hospital will not issue a Death Certificate, please go to page 19. Contacting a Funeral Director You do not have to wait until the Medical Cause of Death Certificate has been issued to make contact with Funeral Directors. However, you may like to take time in making this decision, and to compare costs and services offered. A list of local names and addresses can be found on the internet, telephone directory and at the back of this booklet on page 26.

Registering the Death Where to register the death. The Register Office is open Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 4.30pm, Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm. Bournemouth Register Office Town Hall Bournemouth BH2 6DY Phone: 01202 123777 www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk Christchurch Register Office 26 High Street Christchurch BH23 1AW Phone: 01202 123777 www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk Poole Register Office The Guildhall Market Street Poole BH15 1NF Phone: 01202 123232 www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk

What if I live outside the area? All deaths must be registered in the district where the deceased has died. However for relatives living outside the area, the death may be registered by declaration at your local registry office. Please advise the Bereavement Office if you wish to Register by Declaration and they can let you know the process. Please be aware this may cause a delay because the Death Certificates will be posted to you. How to register the death Once the MCCD has been completed, the Bereavement Office will contact you to book a registration appointment at a mutually agreed date and time. The MCCD is then sent electronically and securely to the Registrar. Who can register the death • • •

A relative of the deceased. Someone present at the death. The person making the funeral arrangements.

What needs to be taken to register the death: The Register Office offers a service which enables you, through the Registrar, to tell a number of Government Agencies and the Borough of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole local authority information about the deceased. The service is free and will save you time. The information you give will be treated securely. Using this service the following departments will automatically be informed: • • • • •

DWP Pensions The Pension Service Disability and Carers Service Jobcentre Plus HM Revenue & Customs for Child Benefit and Tax Credits • HM Passport Office • Housing Benefit Office • Council Tax Benefit Office

• • • • • • • •

DVLA Libraries Blue Badges Council Housing Adult Services Children’s Services Council Tax Electoral Services

Information you will need with you • The deceased’s National Insurance Number and/or date of birth • Information on benefits or services the deceased person may have been receiving • Passport

• • • • •

Driving Licence Disability Badges Bus Pass Medical Card Marriage Certificate (if appropriate) • Birth Certificate

(Please do not worry if you do not have any of these, the important one is the National Insurance Number.)

The Registrar will ask you for the following information. You may like to fill in the spaces below before you go to the Register Office. The date and place of death: ...................................................................................................................................................

Full name and surname/family name: ...................................................................................................................................................

Date and place of birth of the deceased: ...................................................................................................................................................

Address, including postcode of the deceased: ...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

The last full-time occupation of the deceased: ...................................................................................................................................................

Date and place of birth of surviving widow/widower/civil partner: ...................................................................................................................................................

Maiden name/family name (if applicable): ...................................................................................................................................................

This information will form an entry in the Death Register. 10

The Registrar will give you three documents: • Death Certificate

The Registrar will issue copies of the Death Certificate for a charge. A Death Certificate has a Crown copyright and may not be photo-copied. These may be necessary for sorting out the estate of the deceased person. You may request the return of certified copies from banks, etc. Copies may be purchased later. The Bereavement Team can advise of the cost of the Death Certificate. Several may be needed for purposes such as those listed below:

• For letters of administration • Closing bank or building society accounts • For insurance companies and private company pensions • Stocks and shares owned by the deceased • Premium bonds or other National Savings • Green Form

The Registrar will scan this electronically to the Funeral Director.

• White form BD8

A certificate of Registration of Death which is required for the Department for Work and Pensions for pension purposes. This will not be issued when you have used the Register Office’s free service using the deceased’s National Insurance number. 11

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Arranging the Funeral You can do this before or after the death is registered. It is important to contact a Funeral Director as soon as possible after a bereavement so that advice and assistance are given from the beginning and initial arrangements can be made. We are unable to recommend a Funeral Director, however there are numerous business directories available as well as internet search engines you may find helpful. You do not have to wait until the doctor has completed the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death before you contact a Funeral Director, however you may like to take time in making this decision. A funeral is a time for celebrating the life of the deceased as well as a time for saying goodbye and sharing grief. Before making the funeral arrangements, you may wish to give some thought to what sort of funeral the deceased, you, the family and friends would prefer; a private gathering or a bigger ceremony, whether or not there should be a religious ceremony. Funeral Directors may be contacted by phone 24 hrs a day, seven days a week, though offices may only be visited during normal office hours. Most Funeral Directors belong to trade associations with codes of practice that guarantee that a funeral will not cost more than the written estimate. It is perfectly in order for you to ask for more than one estimate from different firms. The final choice of Funeral Director is entirely yours. You may wish to put an announcement in the national or local newspapers giving 15

details of the funeral and wishes about charity donations or flowers. The classified advertisements department of the newspaper will be pleased to help you with wording and give you an estimate of costs. Funeral Directors will also arrange this for you.

Who needs to be told about the death You will probably want to let the family, friends and neighbours know of the death right away. There are several other people who may also need to know. These are some of the arrangements that may need to be made: Done Funeral Director Priest, Minister or Faith Leader The Benefits Agency (pensions, benefit) The Bank, Credit Cards, Building Society Social Services (home helps, home care) Schools, College or University attended (if applicable) Place of work (occupational pension) Executors of the Estate (Will) Solicitor Insurance Companies

Library Service Inland Revenue Residential or Nursing Home Landlord, Housing Association, Mortgage provider Council Tax Office Electricity, Gas, Telephone, Water Companies Post Office (redirect mail) DVLA Swansea Careline Cancel any appointments - delivery of papers, etc. Pets - make necessary arrangements for care If the deceased was living alone you will need to ensure that their home is secure and remove all signs that indicate no-one is there. You may wish to collect spare keys from other relatives, friends and neighbours.

The Coroner’s Office and Post Mortems Some deaths are reported by hospital doctors to the Coroner’s Office, e.g: • • • •

An unnatural death Death was sudden or violent or caused by an accident Death might be due to an industrial injury or disease The death occurred while the patient was undergoing an operation or was under the effect of an anaesthetic, or a recent fracture

The Coroner will then decide whether or not a post mortem examination is needed. The Coroner has a legal right to request a post mortem even if this is contrary to the family’s wishes. They will make any necessary arrangements, and give the Register Office the relevant forms so that you can register the death. You will not receive a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the hospital when a Coroner’s post mortem examination is carried out. The Coroner’s Office will send the relevant paperwork straight to the Register Office. The Coroner will contact you with the cause of death and ask you to telephone the Register Office to make an appointment. You will go straight to the Register Office to register the death. You only need to come to the hospital if the deceased has property and/ or valuables to collect. If there is a post mortem, the results go only to the Coroner in the first instance but if you wish you can get a copy of the Post Mortem Report by applying in writing to:The Coroner’s Office Town Hall, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth BH2 6DY 01202 123900 Please tell your Funeral Director if the death is reported to the Coroner. 19

Wills and Probate If you have any queries about the deceased person’s Will or regarding the absence of a Will you can contact your local Probate Registry.

What is Probate? When a person dies somebody has to deal with their estate (the money, property and possessions left) by collecting in all the money, paying any debts and distributing what is left to those people entitled to it. In order to get authority to do this the designated person usually needs to obtain a legal document called a Grant of Representation from the Probate Registry. There are three types of Grant of Representation. Probate - Issued to one or more executors named in the deceased’s Will. Note: Executors are people named in the Will to deal with the estate. Letters of Administration (With Will) - Issued when there is a Will but there is no executor named or when the executors are unable or willing to apply for the grant. Letters of Administration - Issued when the deceased has not made a Will, or any Will made is not valid. If the deceased left a Will, Probate will generally need to be obtained. If there is no Will, Probate cannot be obtained and instead you will generally need to apply for Letters of Administration, before you can administer the Estate. In both cases, the processes involved are very similar and the Form PA1 can be used. This needs to be completed, and sent or taken to the Probate Registry. You can obtain this form from your local Probate Registry or download it from the website. 20

Probate Registry 1st Floor, Southside Offices, The Law Courts Winchester SO23 9EL 01962 814100 www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/winchestercombined-court-centre

Donations for Medical Research If your relative or friend wished to donate their body to medical research you should contact the Medical School at the University of Southampton – telephone Southampton 02381 205763 as soon as possible and advise the Bereavement Team. Please note that the University may not always be able to accept a donation.

GRIEF: When Someone Dies The death of someone you love may be a devastating experience, causing stronger emotions than most people have ever felt before. Feelings Even if you knew your loved one was dying, there is still a sense of shock when the death occurs. You may feel cold, numb, empty and unreal for a time. Following this you may experience such emotions as anger, panic, guilt and sadness. This may also be accompanied by periods of restlessness, especially at night when it may be difficult for you to sleep. You may also react by becoming irritable or critical of yourself and others, or by feeling unable to attend to routine matters or to think straight, which can lead to feelings of despair. All these are natural reactions to bereavement, and are not a sign that you cannot cope any more. Grief is a very individual process, and we each react differently. What is important is that you allow yourself time to grieve and to come to terms with your loss, in the way that is right for you. Support You may prefer to organise things by yourself, but you may also want to consider the help of relatives or a close friend. Often they want to help share the burden. During this time you may need extra support. Do not be afraid to speak about your feelings to someone. Other people may be afraid to speak about your loved one for fear of upsetting you. You may need to let them know when you want to talk. Tears are a natural way of releasing emotions: do not be embarrassed by them. 22

You may also like to seek the support of a spiritual advisor, regardless of your beliefs, and that includes the hospital chaplain, who can put you in touch with a minister of your denomination or religion if you wish. You can contact the Chaplains’ Office by telephoning RBH hospital on 0300 019 4221 Poole Hospital on 0300 019 2167/8153 Allow yourself time to grieve. You may already be very drained physically and emotionally if your loved one had been ill for a time. If you feel unwell, or are concerned about physical symptoms, go to see your GP. There are also various organisations locally who can offer further support and counselling for you. You will have good days and bad days, but in time, the pain will ease, and you will find yourself able to remember your loved one without becoming distressed. You never ‘get over’ a bereavement, but you gradually adjust to the loss, and start to live anew. Some people may feel unable to grieve after a death; perhaps because they are caring for someone else and feel that they ‘have to be strong’. The grief may then be released when a subsequent loss or event occurs, which may even be relatively minor, but is the trigger for emotions to be expressed. Sometimes this can be many years after the original loss. When two bereavements occur relatively close to each other, the grief may be compounded and the feelings more extreme. Grief does take time; it needs to be allowed to happen. If, however, you are concerned about a grief reaction in yourself or in someone close to you, please seek further support. 23

Talking to Children about Death Adults often feel the need to protect children from death. They may feel children will not understand or that they will be too upset. However, we can often underestimate a child’s resources and ability to cope. Children often find it harder if they are not told what is happening, because they may be more frightened by imagined events. Children should be told the facts in a simple manner, using appropriate words, e.g. ‘dead’, ‘death’, rather than ‘lost’ or ‘asleep’. Give them time to ask questions (which may be very direct) and offer plenty of reassurance. It is helpful for adults to share feelings with children, such as feelings of sadness. By doing this they learn that it is natural to feel sad when someone dies. Children may like to draw pictures as part of their way of saying goodbye. It is a good idea to tell the child’s school about what has happened so they can offer support when needed. After the Funeral Settling the deceased person’s estate can be confusing, time consuming and distressing. If you have been named as Executor in the Will, responsibility for carrying out the person’s wishes lies with you. This will include payment of funeral expenses, debts and taxes, as well as arrangements for possessions and other assets. It is wise to avoid making hasty decisions about the future. The length of time will vary for each individual, but gradually you will realise that you are more able to cope with your bereavement. Then will be the time for thinking about plans for the future.

Stopping Junk Mail to the recently deceased If someone you know has died, the amount of unwanted marketing post being sent to them can be greatly reduced which helps to stop painful daily reminders. By registering with the free service www.stopmail.co.uk the names and addresses of the deceased are removed from mailing lists, stopping most advertising mail within as little as six weeks. If you cannot access the internet you can call 0333 006 8114, where you will be asked for very simple information that will take only a few minutes to complete. Alternatively, ask the bereavement team for a leaflet that can be returned in the post. This free of charge service provided by the Bereavement Support Network will actively reduce the unwanted marketing mail but also can help reduce the likelihood of identity theft following the death of someone close. The information is not used for any other purpose and you only have to complete this once. Additionally to Stop Mail a comparable service can also be accessed from the Bereavement Register or Deceased Preference Service if you would prefer to use them.

List of Local Funeral Directors Bournemouth Alan Rice & Tapper

987 Wimborne Road, Moordown, Bournemouth

01202 549555

Co-op Funeralcare

11 Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth 4 Seamoor Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth 441 Wimbourne Road, Winton

01202 418782 01202 763765 01202 528395

Head & Wheble

1a Oxford Road, Lansdowne Mews, 01202 551190 Bournemouth

Nicholas O’Hara

38 Seamoor Road, Bournemouth

01202 612110

Deric Scott

Portman Lodge, 755 Christchurch Road, Boscombe

01202 309609

George Scott & Son Incorporating Harry Tomes

15 Somerset Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth 1537 Wimborne Road, Kinson, Bournemouth 258 Charminster Road, Bournemouth

01202 395827

W Smith & Sons

117 Ensbury Park Road, Bournemouth

01202 528818

South Coast & Nigel J Sellick

1603 Wimborne Road, Kinson

01202 879289

Weldon Funeral Services

8 Grantham Road, Bournemouth

01202 238568

Nicholas O'Hara 156 Tuckton Road, Southbourne, Incorporating Wilton Bournemouth Funeral Services

01202 031460

Yeatmans

01202 830201

97 Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth

01202 578079 01202 546155

Christchurch, Highcliffe, Bransgore, New Milton & Lymington Co-op Funeralcare

88 Bargates, Christchurch 21 Station Road, New Milton

01202 486907 01425 611133

Colin Hayley & Tapper

51-53 Old Milton Road, New Milton 257 Lymington Road, Highcliffe

01425 629000 01425 272764

Diamond & Son

Lower Buckland Road, Lymington

01590 672060

Hinton Park Woodland Burial

Wyndham Road, Walkford

01425 278910

Miller Bros & F. P. Butler

119 Bargates, Christchurch

01202 485439

Moody’s

405 Lymington Road, Highcliffe 59 Old Milton Road, New Milton

01425 278383 01425 612261

A V Ridout

414-417 Lymington Road, Highcliffe 01425 689433

Tapper Funeral Service

Wallis House, 28 High Street, Milford-on-Sea 89-91 Barrack Road, Christchurch

01590 644664

Wessex Funeral Services

3 Burlesdon House, Station Road, New Milton

01425 383844

01202 478887

Ferndown & West Moors Co-op Funeralcare

1 Pennys Walk, Ferndown

01202 870404

A E Jolliffe & Sons

17 Victoria Road, Ferndown

01202 872050

Nicholas O’Hara

128 Station Road, West Moors

01202 895875

Co-op Funeralcare

366 Ringwood Road, Poole 68-70 Lagland Street, Poole

01202 743158 01202 674047

Ives & Shand

568 Ashley Road, Parkstone, Poole

01202 716500

Poole

Nicholas O’Hara

14 Neighbourhood Centre, Culliford Crescent, Poole

01202 612210

Tapper Funeral Service

32-34 Parkstone Road, Poole

01202 673164

Yeatmans

24 Albert Road, Parkstone, Poole 3 Bournemouth Road, Parkstone

01202 741340 01202 741169

Wimborne, Broadstone, Corfe Mullen & Lychett Minster Pool & Wimborne

Greenhill Road, Wimborne

01202 888887

Douch & Small

7 Leigh Road, Wimborne

01202 882936

A H Griffin

167A Lower Blandford Road, Broadstone

01202 693275

Harbour View Burial Ground

Randalls Hill, Lychett Minster

01202 630111

Nicholas O’Hara

38 Rowlands Hill, Wimborne

01202 882134

Lesley Shand

184 Wareham Road, Corfe Mullen

01202 658833

Tapper Funeral Service

173 Lower Blandford Road, Broadstone

01202 694449

Barrow Bros & Tapper

29a Southampton Road, Ringwood

01425 472104

Albert Marsh

St Michaels Road, Wareham

01929 552107

Newman

55 Winchester Street, Salisbury

01722 413136

James Smith

60a Kings Road, Swanage

01929 422445

Eden Funeral Services

Rose Cottage, Ringwood Trading Estate

01425 837080

Lesley Shand (Blandford)

28 East Street, Blandford Forum

01258 453425

Other

Help and Support Bereavement Office The Chaplains’ Office The Social Work Department UHD Patient & Liaison Service (PALS) - 0300 019 8499

Organisations that offer Information, Support and Advice Age UK (Bournemouth) 01202 530530 www.ageuk.org.uk/Bournemouth Age UK Advice 0800 678 1602 At a Loss www.ataloss.org Benefits Enquiry Line 0800 731 0469 www.gov.uk/browse/benefits Help and Care 0300 111 3303 A list of voluntary organisations www.helpandcare.org.uk Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole 0808 278 7939 Bournemouth Drop-in Service - Civic Centre, Town Hall, BH2 1DX (Entrance from St Stephens Road) Christchurch Drop-in Service - Christchurch Central Library, BH23 1AW Poole Drop-in Service - Poole Central Library, BH15 1QE www.citizensadvicebcp.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677 Email: dorset@cruse.org.uk www.cruse.org.uk London Friend 020 7833 1674 (main office) Lesbian & Gay Bereavement Project Switchboard LGBT+ helpline 0800 0119 100 www.londonfriend.org.uk Inland Revenue 0300 200 3300 www.hmrc.gov.uk National Aids Helpline 020 7814 6767 www.nat.org.uk Samaritans 116 123 and 0330 094 5717 Email: jo@samaritans.org www.samaritans.org The Good Grief Trust For help and support in one place. Lists over 700 support networks for a range of different needs. www.thegoodgrieftrust.org The Way Foundation A Support group for people who have lost a husband, wife or partner at a young age. www.widowedandyoung.org.uk Soldiers’ Sailors’ and Airmen’s Family Association Forcesline 0800 260 6767 A charity providing welfare, health and support services for the UK military’s serving personnel, veterans and their families. www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/supporting-older-veterans/loss-of-aloved-one 30

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of advertisements contained in this publication, the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust cannot accept liability for errors and omissions. The University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers and their inclusion in The Royal Bournemouth Hospital Bereavement Booklet should not be taken as an endorsement by the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

Written by the Bereavement Services Publication date: May 2026 Review date: May 2028

Dear Friend, We are constantly reviewing the service we offer to bereaved relatives and friends. Following the recent death of your loved one, we would be grateful if you would take a few moments to fill in the questionnaire below. This is completely optional, and you may return this at a time which feels comfortable to you. We value comments about what you found helpful, and areas where you feel we might improve the service. If you are unhappy about any aspect of the care you or your relative received, you may prefer to put the details in writing to the Chief Executive. The following information is optional, but may assist us in passing on appropriate comments and dealing with queries. Patient’s Name.................................................................................................................. Ward. ........................................................................................................................................ Your Name. .......................................................................................................................... Address. ................................................................................................................................. ......................................................................................................................................................

Did you find this booklet helpful?

YES/YES VERY/NO

Did you feel that you were provided with adequate facilities such as refreshments, space, privacy? YES/NO Were you encouraged to spend time with your loved one, privately, before and after they died? YES/NO COMMENTS....................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................

Were you offered the support of the Hospital Chaplaincy or a Minister/Priest of your choice? YES/NO COMMENTS....................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................

Do you feel that you were given the opportunity to discuss the circumstances of the death with a doctor? YES/NO COMMENTS....................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................

Were you advised how to contact the Bereavement Services and what to do next? YES/NO COMMENTS....................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................

Were you satisfied with the handling of all personal property and valuables? YES/NO COMMENTS....................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................

Do you have any suggestions as to how we could improve our services? COMMENTS....................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................

Thank you for completing this form. Please detach and return to: Bereavement Services, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH7 7DW 33

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

Price correct at time of printing but may be subject to change

Tel: 01202 416116 Village Hotel Bournemouth, Wessex Fields, Deansleigh Road, Bournemouth BH7 7DZ

Prices valid at time of publication but may be subject to change.

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

bereavement support network here to help