Leaflet: What to do when someone is dying – for relatives & carers
This leaflet includes information to help you during this difficult time.
You may like to read this information before someone dies so that you feel prepared, or you may want to read it when someone has died.
It can be a very upsetting and confusing time. It is normal to feel anxious about what to do next, but please be reassured that there is help and support available.
Who to contact if the death is expected
• Your district nurse or End of Life (EoL) Service in order to verify the death
• Your GP
• Out of Hours
• Contact a funeral director – this does not need to be done immediately
The nurse may ask you to sign a form and return unused medications to the pharmacy.
The nurse will remove the care plan and documentation from the home and any small pieces of equipment such as a syringe pump box.
Equipment
To arrange for collection of equipment – such as hospital bed or commode – please phone Medequip on:
T: 0117 957 9140
This can sometimes take a week to arrange.
If there is to be a cremation then two GPs will need to see the deceased before a death certificate can be signed. Contact the GP surgery to arrange collection of the death certificate. You may request as many certified copies of the death certificate as you need. Each certificate costs £11 (correct June 2020).
Useful contacts
The Bristol Register Office
The Old Council House,
Corn Street,
Bristol,
BS1 IJG
T: 0117 922 2800
E: Register.office@bristol.gov.uk
North Somerset Registry Office Castlewood,
Tickenham Road,
Clevedon,
BS21 6FW
T: 01823 282 251
E: Somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk
South Gloucestershire Registry Office Kingswood Civic Centre,
High Street,
Bristol,
BS15 9TR
T: 01454 863140
Kingswood Civic Centre
High Street,
Bristol,
BS15 9TR
T: 01454 863140
Yate One Stop Shop
Kennedy Way,
Bristol,
BS37 4DQ
T: 01454 868009
Age UK Bristol
Canningford House,
38 Victoria Street,
Bristol,
BS1 6BY
T: 0117 922 5353
E: advice@ageukbristol.org.uk
Age UK South Gloucestershire 67 High Street,
Thornbury,
BS35 2AW
01454 411707
info@ageuksouthglos.org.uk
Age UK North Somerset
4 Waterloo Street,
Weston- Super-Mare,
BS23 1LG
T: 01823 345610
E: info@ageuksome
Bereavement Advice Bureau
T: 0800 634 9494
E: info@bereavementadvice.org W: www.bereavementadvice.org
Citizens Advice Bureau Bristol
48 Fairfax Street,
Bristol,
BS1 3BL
T: 03444 111 444
W: www.bristolcab.org.ukrset.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau South Gloucestershire
Yate Shopping Centre,
Bristol,
BS37 4DQ
T: 0344 411 1444
Citizens Advice Bureau North Somerset
25 Old Street Town Centre,
Clevedon
BS21 6ND
0808 278 7973
Cruse Bereavement Care Bristol
CRUSE Bereavement provides care and support for bereaved people of all ages in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset.
9a St. James Barton,
Bristol,
BS1 3LT
T: 0117 9264045
T: 0808 808 1677
E: helpline@cruse.org.uk
W: www.crusebristol.org.uk
National Association of Funeral Directors
Help and advice on finding a funeral director and arranging a funeral.
T: 0121 711 1343
E: info@nafd.org.uk
W: www.nafd.org.uk
The Compassionate Friends
53 North Street,
Bristol,
BS3 1EN
T: 0345 123 2304
E: helpline@tcf.org.uk
W: www.tcf.org.uk
The Compassionate Friends
53 North Street, Bristol, BS3 1EN
T: 0345 123 2304
E: helpline@tcf.org.uk
W: www.tcf.org.uk
Financial help
You may be able to get a funeral payment from the social fund if you are on a low income and meet the criteria.
To find out more, contact the Department for Work and Pensions’ bereavement service on 0800 731 0469 or 0800 731 0464
(textphone).
