Bereavement

The role of Bereavement Services is to ensure that staff, patients and their families receive a high standard of care and support prior to and following the death of a loved one.

Bereavement is an extremely emotional time in a person’s life. Therefore, by providing support and clear information to those who want it, our Bereavement Manager hopes to reduce some of the fears and anxieties faced at this time.

Help and Advice

The days following bereavement can be very difficult, however, the formalities must be dealt with soon. Should you require help, advice or information the Bereavement Manager will be available during this time. The Bereavement Manager, on your behalf, can arrange an appointment with the Registry Office so that the death of your loved one can be registered promptly.

Medical Examiner Service

The aim of the Medical Examiner Service is to:

• Provide a better service for the bereaved and an opportunity for them to raise any concerns to a Doctor not involved in the care of the deceased
• Improve the quality/accuracy of the medical certification of cause of death (MCCD)
• Ensure referrals to the Coroner are appropriate
• Improve the quality of the mortality data
• Provide the public with greater safeguards through improved and consistent scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths, and support healthcare providers to improve care through better learning
• Support local learning/improvement by identifying matters in need of clinical governance and related processes
• Align with related systems such as the Learning from Deaths Framework and Universal Mortality Reviews

A member of the team will contact the next of kin to help you understand the cause of death. They will go through the MCCD contents and ask if you are in agreement. You will have an opportunity to ask further questions should you wish to do so.

You will also be asked if you have any feedback regarding your loved one’s care and treatment during their final illness.