WHAT TO DO IN TIMES OF BEREAVEMENT

What to do if someone dies:

It is a legal requirement for a Doctor to confirm that someone has passed away. There is no need to move the patient. If your doctor has recently seen the patient and knows their history, a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) will normally be issued. However, in the event of an unexpected death, or in unclear circumstances, the doctor may need to notify the Procurator Fiscal. Approximately 1 in 10 deaths will be randomly reviewed by the medical reviewer who may wish to clarify details and circumstances with the doctor and family before burial or cremation can take place.

 

If death occurs at home:



    1. Telephone the Doctor or NHS 24. A Doctor will usually visit to confirm death has taken place.

    1. Contact the Funeral Director to inform them that their services will be required.

    1. Collect the Death Certificate from the surgery. (You will be told when this will be available for collection). This will not be possible if it is necessary to involve the Procurator Fiscal.



 

If death occurs in hospital:



    1. Contact the Funeral Directors to inform them that their services will be required.

    1. Collect the Death Certificate from the hospital.



 

Then.....



    1. Telephone the Registrar’s Office for an appointment (for the area in which the death took place) and take the Death Certificate with you to the Registrar's Office. They will register the death and give you another Certificate.

    1. Take the new Certificate to the Funeral Directors, who will take over complete responsibility for arranging the funeral.



 

 
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