Information for bereaved people

Departments Wards Charities

The staff of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust wish to express their deepest sympathy to you and your family at this very difficult time.

The following information will provide you with guidance and support during the early days of your bereavement.

What to do first

We recommend that you contact a Funeral Director in the first instance. You can do this immediately as you do not have to wait for a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to be issued (this is the official certificate issued by a doctor that you need to register the death). The services they offer may differ, so feel free to explore what they can and can’t provide and what is important to you.

You will also need to call the Bereavement Team on 01722 425150 and leave a message on the answerphone advising your name, telephone number and the patient’s name and we will call you back at the earliest opportunity. Please note we are open 9.30am – 4.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9:30am - 3:30pm on Fridays.

At weekends and Bank Holidays a member of the mortuary team is contactable for urgent enquiries via the Hospital Switchboard on 01722 336262 between 9:00am-4:30pm. Switchboard will take your details and ask a member of the team to contact you.

The Medical Examiner

Before the Medical Certificate of Death can be issued, the Medical Examiner will independently review the medical notes and the care given and discuss the cause of death with the Doctor completing the certificate. The Medical Examiner or one of their officers will then contact you to explain the cause of death and any medical terminology so that you can understand.

Sometimes a death needs to be referred to the Coroner. If this is the case, the Medical Examiner will explain why. During this phone call, the Medical Examiner or their officers will offer you the opportunity to raise any questions or concerns you have about either the cause of death or the care given to your loved one during their last stay in hospital. If further exploration is required on any matter, this will be highlighted to the Trust, which may help to improve care for the future.

Understanding what happened

As a family member, partner, friend or carer of someone who has died whilst at our hospital, you may have some questions or concerns about the care and treatment they received. You may also want to understand more about the reasons for their death.

You will be able to raise these with the Medical Examiner or one of their officers when they phone you to discuss the cause of death. However, please don’t worry if you are not ready to ask questions or if you think of questions later. You will still have the opportunity to raise these with the Trust by completing the ‘Your Views Matter’ Bereavement survey.

Returning property

Any property or valuables will be passed on to your chosen funeral director. Please contact them to arrange return of these items. If you feel there are any items outstanding, please contact the PALS team on: 01722 429044.

Visiting

Viewings of your loved ones can be arranged by calling 01722 425150 after 10:00 Monday to Friday and are available by appointment only within opening hours. If you reach the answering machine, please do leave a message and we will call back at the earliest opportunity.

Coroner’s post mortem

There are several reasons why a death might have to be referred to the coroner, for example a sudden or unexpected death, a death following a road traffic collision (RTC), suicide or when a doctor has not seen the deceased in the last 28 days. In these cases, a post-mortem examination may be required. During the post mortem examination a person with either medical or legal qualifications can be present to represent the interests of the family. Such representation will be at the expense of the family. Please note: COVID-19 is not a reason in itself for a coroner’s post mortem.

After a coroner’s post mortem you will be informed by the coroner’s officer when they have sent their paperwork to the Registration Office so that you can make an appointment to register the death. A post mortem examination does not usually delay the funeral. The coroner’s officer will keep you fully informed.

Hospital post mortem

When the death does not have to be reported to the coroner there is no legal requirement for a post mortem examination. However hospital doctors may ask you for permission to carry out a post mortem examination to find out more about the cause of death or the effects of treatment. This does not have to happen and you will have the final say.

The post mortem report will be sent to the requesting doctors and the patient’s GP.

Registering the death

The death must be registered within 5 days. Once the medical certificate of death has been emailed by the hospital to the Registration Office, your nominated person will be contacted by telephone to make an appointment to register the death.

The Wiltshire Registration Office in Salisbury is open from Monday to Friday 9:30am-4:00pm except Wednesdays when they open at 10:00am.

The nominated person will receive a telephone call to make an appointment to register the death. They will need to have the following information to hand about the deceased for this appointment:

Full name/maiden name
Date and place of death
Whether he/she was receiving a pension/allowance funds
Date and place of birth
Marital status
If applicable the date of birth of the surviving partner

If you would like to register outside the county of Wiltshire, please contact the registration office on 0300 003 4569 for more information on the process involved (known as registering by declaration).

This government website also provides practical information on what to do following a death.

Case note reviews

Here we strive to provide the very best care and one way of achieving this is to learn from past care we have delivered through case note reviews. Much can be learnt from recognising examples of excellent care as well as identifying areas for improvement.

As well as reviewing the death of any patient for whom significant concerns have been raised, case note reviews are routinely carried out on a proportion of all inpatient deaths by a senior clinician who was not directly involved in the person’s care.

The clinician will look at each aspect of the person’s care and feedback any learning points, both positive and negative that may benefit care provided to others in the future. If a routine review finds any issues with a person’s care, the family will be contacted to discuss this further.

If your loved one had a learning disability, was a child, died in a maternity setting or as a result of a mental health related death, there are specific processes and procedures the Trust needs to follow. If this is the case, you will be contacted by a senior clinician within that specialty who will provide you with the relevant details on these processes.

This government website also provides practical information on what to do following a death.

Local and National Support

Salisbury Samaritans - Offers you support and someone to talk to by phone (24hrs) on 116123 (no code required).
National Bereavement Partnership- A support helpline, counselling referral and befriending service for all those suffering from bereavement, grief, living loss and those affected by COVID-19. Helpline: 0800 448 0800 (7:00am-10:00pm)7 days a week or Text Helpline 07860022814.
Sudden Bereavement Support - A charity providing help for suddenly bereaved people from: a medical illness (including COVID-19), a traumatic event or suicide. They can provide a named case worker helping with emotional support and practical issues. Helpline: 0800 2600 400 Mon - Fri 10:00am – 4:00pm.
Cruse Bereavement Care - Trained people who are available to help you through your grief. Helpline: 01722 411938.
Winston’s Wish - Offers support, information and guidance to bereaved children, their families and professionals. Helpline: 0808 802 0021
Support after Suicide Partnership - Provides helpful resources for those bereaved by suicide and signposting to local support groups and organisations.
Andover Mind - Offers information on mental health issues and gives details of local support. Helpline: 0300 5000 907.
Carer Support Wiltshire - 0800 181 4118 or 01380 871609
Silver Line - Free confidential telephone helpline offering information, friendship and advice to older people in the United Kingdom that’s available 24 hours a day. Helpline: 0800 470 8090.
Age UK - Offers advice and information and can be contacted on 01722 335425.
Citizens Advice Bureau - Can give a wealth of help and advice, including a list of local solicitors. Call: 0344 411 1444.

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