We understand that losing a loved one is an incredibly difficult and emotional time. At Knoll Medical Practice, we want to support you and make the process following the death of a loved one as clear and stress-free as possible.
What to Do When Your Loved One Dies at Home
During Practice Hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM) – Please call the surgery as soon as possible. We will arrange for a clinician to visit your home and confirm that your loved one has passed away. When a person passes away, a crucial step is the Verification of Death. This is a formal check performed by a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or a specially trained paramedic or nurse. During this verification, the healthcare professional carefully assesses for signs of life, such as a pulse, breathing, and any response from the individual. This process is a necessary step to formally acknowledge that life has ended, providing clarity and allowing for the next steps in a respectful manner.
Outside Practice Hours (Evenings, Weekends, and Bank Holidays) – Please contact NHS 111 or 999. An out-of-hours clinician will come to your home to verify the death. We recommend you contact the surgery as soon as we reopen to inform us.
After Death Verification
Once a clinician has verified the death, you should contact your chosen funeral director to arrange for your loved one to be collected.
Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
Upon notification of death verification, the GP surgery will complete a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). This will be done by a GP who has been involved in your loved one’s care. We will then send this to the Medical Examiner’s Office at King’s College Trust, along with your loved one’s next of kin details.
Our aim is to complete all necessary paperwork within 72 hours.
Notifying Other Services
The GP surgery will also notify all relevant services your loved one was using, such as district nurses, St Christopher’s Hospice, and their pharmacy, to inform them of the death.
The Registrar and Death Certificate
The Medical Examiner’s Office will review and confirm the cause of death provided by the GP surgery. They will then forward this information to the Registrar’s Office, who will issue your loved one’s Death Certificate. The Medical Examiner may contact you for additional information during this process.
The Registrar’s Office has 5 days to contact the next of kin to schedule an appointment for you to collect the Death Certificate and formally register the death.
Supporting Faith Deaths
We understand that for some faiths, there is the need for a quicker turnaround. Upon notification of a faith death, a clinician will attend at our first availability. In these cases, we will inform the Medical Examiner’s Office immediately.
If your loved one is nearing the end of their life and there’s a possibility they may pass away over a weekend, we can inform the Medical Examiner’s Office in advance. They are open on Saturdays and Sundays and can complete the required paperwork.
We recommend informing the surgery if your loved one will have a faith death prior to them passing. This allows us to act as efficiently as possible to support your wishes.
Questions and Support
If you have any questions about the process or need an update on your loved one’s MCCD or Death Certificate, please call the surgery between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday.
We also know that bereavement support can be vital. There are many services in the local area that offer support to those who have lost loved ones. If you would like to be referred to a bereavement service or signposted to helpful teams, please contact the surgery or submit an online consultation.