What to do when someone dies
If you are reading this because someone has died or is dying, please accept our condolences; we are sorry that you are having to go through this difficult time. We hope you find this information helpful in understanding the arranging of a funeral.
The death of someone close to you is never easy, but it is manageable. Our team are dedicated to guiding and supporting you through each step of the process, beginning with the first steps outlined here.
You can call us for guidance and support at anytime on 01492 860 280.
Where the person has died will determine the first steps to take.
If someone dies in hospital, you will be contacted by the bereavement team based at the location. They will be able to offer practical and emotional support. The bereavement team will ask you if you have a Funeral Director appointed, or may have asked you to consider that already. If you appoint us as your Funeral Director, we will make all necessary arrangements directly with the hospital or hospice, to bring your loved one into our care. The bereavement team will coordinate the completion of all paperwork relating to the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and will liaise with you directly in regards to obtaining the death certificate from the Registrar in the district of the hospital or hospice.
Within 10 days of someone dieing, you will also be contacted by a Medical Examiner, who will have spoken with the doctor at the hospital. The Medical Examiner will explain the cause of death and provide you with an opportunity to express any concerns over the care of the person who has died.
The Bereavement Offices at our two local hospitals are open 10am – 4pm, Monday – Friday (excluding Bank Holidays):
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd - 03000 844032
More information can be found here.
If someone dies in a nursing home, care home or Hospice, a medical professional must certify the death. They will either be the deceased person's registered GP, the on-call doctor or a registered specialist nurse. Once the death has been certified, the nursing or care home will contact us to bring the deceased person into our care. If we have been appointed as your Funeral Director, we will liaise with the Doctor who was looking after the deceased person (usually within the last 14 days), to obtain the necessary paperwork (Medical Certificate of Cause of Death) in order for you to register the death with the local Registrar.
Within 10 days of someone dieing, you will be contacted by a Medical Examiner, who will have spoken with the doctor. The Medical Examiner will explain the cause of death and provide you with an opportunity to express any concerns over the care of the person who has died.
If the death was expected it will need to be certified by a medical professional (usually a Doctor or a registered specialist nurse). Once the death has been certified, you can make contact with us when you are ready. Take the time you need to say goodbyes, if you wish to do so, then call our team to arrange bringing the person that has died into our care. As part of the next steps in the process we will assist you in obtaining the necessary completed paperwork from the registered GP.
Within 10 days of someone dieing, you will be contacted by a Medical Examiner, who will have spoken with the doctor. The Medical Examiner will explain the cause of death and provide you with an opportunity to express any concerns over the care of the person who has died.
For sudden or unexpected deaths, the standard procedure is for the ambulance service to attend in the first instance. Once the ambulance is in attendance, as a matter of formality, the Police will attend. The Police will collect information on behalf of the Coroner and will then contact your requested Funeral Director, or the on-rota Funeral Director, to take your loved one to the coroner, based at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. The Coroner may request a post-mortem and/or an inquest depending upon the circumstances surrounding their death.
The Coroner will speak to you about their investigation and will ask you to appoint a Funeral Director, if you haven’t already done so. We will not be able to confirm a date or time for a funeral until the Coroner has finished their investigations. Towards the end of the Coroner’s investigation, the Coroner’s office will let our team know when we can collect the person that has died and bring them into our care.
Our team are on hand to advise and guide you through the process when someone dies elsewhere in the United Kingdom or abroad, if you wish to have them returned into our care. Tom Owen and Son has experience of receiving coffins from abroad in addition to repatriating people to countries outside of the United Kingdom.
You can call us for guidance and support at anytime on 01492 860 280.
