Bereavement

Information for the relatives or next of kin of a patient who has died

At The Leys Health Centre we know that when the death of a loved one occurs it can be extremely distressing and upsetting.  We want to ensure that all our patients and their families feel well cared for and that any care undertaken by us at this time is done in a professional and sympathetic manner.

We want to ensure that family members are aware of our practice’s procedures when death occurs and it will signpost you to further information that you will need to know.  As a medical practice we are obliged by law to follow certain procedures in a set way.  Other procedures are carried out as to what we think is best practice.

There are several websites that will explain in more detail about how to register a death and will give advice about what to do in the event of death.  The following link is to governmental guidelines on the subject: https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages/death.

In the main we will be more involved if the death of a patient occurs in the home.  One of the main responsibilities a GP will have, as well as caring for the family of the deceased patient, is to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death – MCCD (more commonly known as the death certificate). 

The MCCD then goes to the Medical Examiners Office who then will contact the bereaved familes and liaise regarding the registration of the death which you will need to do.