If a death occurs at home, the death will need to be verified by a person qualified to do so. Often this means you will need to contact the Deceased’s GP’s Surgery or the out of hours doctors. The doctor who attends will then verify death. Alternatively, this may be done by a nurse who has been attending the person who has passed away during their last illness, this can also be done by an attending paramedic. In the days following a death the deceased’s GP will issue the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death. This is required to register the death.

Following a bereavement in hospital you will need to contact the hospitals bereavement office. They will inform you when a doctor who has attended the deceased has completed the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death, at which point you will be able to register the death.

The nursing staff at the home may be qualified to verify the death, if not, they will contact a doctor that is. Following on from this, their doctor will complete the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death, once this has been done, you will be able to register the death.