When Someone Dies - Information for family, friends and carers

RNOH does not have a mortuary on site so uses WH Putnams Funeral Directors to move your loved one to their premises. If you wish we can arrange for you to stay with them until the transporting undertakers arrive. If you would like to visit your loved one after they have left hospital, please contact WH Putnams on 020 8108 3923.

The Hospital Chaplaincy is here to offer spiritual and pastoral support, whether you have a faith or none. If you would like support from a specific faith tradition, the Chaplaincy can facilitate this or provide signposting 24/7, or please ask a Nurse to contact the appropriate person listed in the multi-faith directory.

You can contact the Chaplaincy on 020 8909 5426, or via email at rnoh.chaplaincy@nhs.net

Your loved one’s property can be collected directly from the ward. Please telephone in advance so our staff can have everything ready for your arrival.

The hospital will arrange for the medical certificate for cause of death (death certificate) to be sent directly to the Harrow Register Office. If you urgently need a burial/cremation certificate prior to the full registration of the death, and it is outside our normal office hours, Harrow Register Office provides a service on Sundays between 9am to 10am and bank holiday mornings. Telephone: 020 8863 5611. For out of office hours please visit Harrow Register Office website: www.harrow.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages/register-death

You will need to make a specific appointment to register a death. Only a close relative or friends can register the death and this has to be done within five working days:

Harrow Register Office
The Pavilion Perceval Square
College Road Harrow. HA1 1GX
Telephone: 020 8901 2665
Email: register.office@harrow.gov.uk

You will need to take the following information about your loved one when you attend this appointment:

• The full name of the deceased. Including any middle names or maiden names.
• The date and place of death.
• The date and place of birth.
• The full address and occupation.
• The full name and occupation of any spouses. This is if the deceased was married or widowed.
• The full names and occupation of the deceased and any surviving partner. This is if the deceased was in a civil partnership.

If you have problems visiting Harrow Council, please contact them for further advice or guidance.

Harrow Register Office
The Pavilion, Perceval Square,
College Road, Harrow. HA1 1GX

The death will initially be referred to the medical examiner who will refer to the coroner if needed. The family will receive a telephone call from the medical examiner. Once the medical examiner has determined cause of death, the death certificate will be issued.

In some circumstances the coroner may request that a post-mortem be carried out, and this is compulsory.

In these circumstances, the hospital will be unable to issue the death certificate. The coroner’s office will liaise directly with you and will issue the medical certificate which states the cause of death once the post-mortem has been carried out. This will not stop you from making provisional funeral arrangements.

You can make provisional arrangements with a funeral director of your choice and may find it helpful to contact them as soon as possible as they can advise you on what to do next. However, final arrangements cannot be made until the death has been registered.

There are many people you can talk to when a death has occurred either at the time or at a later date. Please speak to the PALS team if you would like to make an appointment to speak to a member of the nursing or medical team.

You may also find it helpful to speak to your GP.

If there is anything else that you would like to discuss in confidence, please contact our PALS team.

Telephone: 020 8909 5439

CRUSE Bereavement care
Someone to turn to when someone dies   ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​                     
www.cruse.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 808 1677

Marie Curie
Bereavement support
Mariecurie.org.uk
Telephone: 0800 090 2309

Samaritans
“Whatever you’re going through, call us free any time, from any phone”
Telephone: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org

Grief Encounter For children and young people
www.griefencounter.org.uk
Telephone: 0208 446 7452

The Child Bereavement Trust Offers support to families
www.childbereavement.org
Telephone: 0800 028 8840

Winston’s Wish
Helps bereaved children come to terms with the loss of a loved one
www.winstonswish.org
Telephone: 0845 203 0405