Initial actions

If the death occurs at home, the first thing you will need to do is contact the GP so they can certify the death.

To know if a person has died, you need to check for a pulse or check if they are breathing (check the rising of their chest).

Yes, if the death occurs at home you will need to contact the GP so they can certify the death. If the death occurs in a care home, usually the care home will contact the GP. Some care homes can certify a death.

We will collect your loved one as soon as we are able to. We will call you when we are leaving our premises to give you an estimated arrival time.

We will arrive in a suitable funeral vehicle. It will not be a hearse.

Yes, such property can remain with them. We will record all items so that you know they are with your loved one. Items can also be returned to you at a later date if required.

False teeth can remain in place when we take them into our care, and they will remain in place for burial or cremation.

Yes, we will note any clothes provided so that we can dress your loved one in them.

Glasses can remain on when we collect your loved one, and for any visits you make to see them in our chapel of rest.  They can remain with them if they are to be buried. Glasses will need to be removed for cremation. We can return them to you if you wish.

When we arrive we will take you through the next steps and give you some guidance literature. We will then take the person to one of our branches where we will care for them until the funeral.