Help & Advice
Fallon Family Funerals
Sudden or Unexpected Death
Sudden Death Syndrome is typically categorised as death caused by cardiac syndromes which result in sudden cardiac arrest and possibly death. When a person dies at home, in a care home or due to unforeseen circumstances in another scenario, the deceased may require the care of a Coroner to determine their exact cause of death and rule out anything suspicious or violent. A Coroner is a judicial officer whose purpose is to investigate deaths reported to them which are deemed ‘sudden’.
If your loved one is taken into the care of a coroner, there is no need to be distressed or concerned. The Coroner’s duty is simply to establish the cause of death. This can often give family and friends answers and closure during a difficult period.
Upon their findings, the coroner will determine whether or not further procedures are necessary such as a post-mortem examination or an inquest.
Following the initial investigation, the coroner may find that the death was due to natural causes in which case a Doctor will issue a Medical Certificate, sometimes referred to as a Death Certificate.
Other actions carried out by the corner include:
> Give an order for burial or cremation free of charge.
> Send a certificate to the Registrar (after an inquest) stating the cause of death.
> Provide, usually as a matter of course, a letter confirming the fact of death for social security and insurance benefit purposes.
> Give permission for the body to be removed out of England and Wales.
> Pay for the removal of the deceased from the place of death to the mortuary.
If the cause of death remains unknown, a post-mortem examination (also referred to as an autopsy) is called for and will be carried out by a pathologist. This is a surgical procedure consisting of a thorough examination of the deceased to decide the cause of death. Consent from relatives is not required although you can request a doctor to be present.
Typically, the post-mortem report will conclude that the death was due to natural causes, in which case no further action is necessary. However, in the unlikely circumstance the coroner rules the cause of death as accidental, violent or suspicious, the coroner is then obliged to call for an inquest to be carried out.
The inquest will determine:
> The identity of the person deceased.
> When, where, and how the death occurred – witness statements and medical records are required.
> The ultimate cause of death.
This can understandably be a troubling time for the loved ones involved. In which case, following the opening of the inquest, once the identity of the deceased is established, it is likely the coroner may adjourn the inquest and allow the funeral to take place.
After the funeral has occurred, it may take time for the inquest into the cause of death to be re-opened. Please be reassured that both the Coroners Office and your funeral director will work to keep you informed in regards to any information they may require or any updated information.
If you require any further information or details in regards to Sudden Death, do not hesitate to contact your funeral director or local Coroners Office:
Stockport Coroners – Coroner’s Court, Mount Tabor, Mottram Street, Stockport, SK1 3PA. Get Directions.
Tel: 0161 474 3993
Opening Hours: Mon – Thurs 08.30 to 16:30 & Fri 08:00 to 16:00
Manchester Coroners – Manchester City Coroner’s Office, PO Box 32, Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, M60 2LA. Get Directions.
Tel: 0161 219 2222
Email: coroners@manchester.gov.uk
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm
Cheshire Coroners – The West Annexe, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1UH
For cases in the Crewe are: Tel. 01925 442481 / 01925 442479
For cases in the Macclesfield area: Tel. 01925 442478 / 01925 442483
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm
Expected
If this is the case family members may already have the information required for the steps needed to proceed. First notify your GP or if out of hours contact Doctors surgery for local Doctor to attend who would pronounce death.
At this point you would be given permission to contact us in order to arrange for your loved one to be transferred into the care of the Funeral Director.
Sudden or Unexpected
At this point family or person would contact the police who would determine procedure after that point. The attending Doctor or Medical Professional may instead have to inform the Coroner.
This will be in circumstances when further investigation may be necessary to establish the cause of death and the deceased may have to be taken into the care of the Coroner.
In these circumstances, the attending Doctor or Medical Professional will be able to advise you on what will happen next, although please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.
If family are present the Care Home would arrange for a qualified medical person to attend to confirm that your loved one has passed. At this point you would give permission to Care Home to contact us allowing the transfer the deceased into our care.
We will liaise with the Care Home staff on your behalf and make the necessary arrangements for your loved one to be transferred into our care.
Most Care Homes would already keep notes on file about residents and their families’ wishes, for use in the event that a family member passes away. Notes that a Care Home might keep include details of which family member to contact, in the event of your loved one passing, or whether the family wish to be informed if they were to pass away in the middle of the night.
They should also find out which Funeral Home you would like them to contact; if you have a relative in a care home, it may be helpful to ensure that they know which funeral home they should contact at the appropriate time.
When a loved one passes in a General Hospital the ward staff will provide the family with all the details required. How to get in touch with the hospital’s Bereavement Centre.
After you contact us giving instruction that you wish us to take your loved into our care, we would contact the Hospital bereavement office on your behalf to order all necessary documentation required for the service to take place.
The Bereavement Centre in larger hospitals has the responsibility for liaising with the family on a variety of different matters – including counselling, the return of personal belongings to the family, certifying the death and making arrangements for the release of the deceased into the care of Fallon Funeral Directors.
The Bereavement Centre staff may also ask if as a family you know if the funeral will be a burial or cremation. They will ask you this question because the type of funeral determines the type of paperwork that will be needed to enable the death to be certified.
The amount of time it takes hospitals to make the practical arrangements for a death to be certified and registered can vary, depending on the hospital and circumstances in which the death occurred. The Bereavement Centre will however be able to advise you on expected timescales for certifying and registering the death, when you attend your initial appointment. Once the death has been registered and The Bereavement Centre has received all of the relevant paperwork, we can (on your instruction) arrange for the deceased to be released into our care.
Some hospitals now have the facility to register the death at the hospital, and the Bereavement Centre staff will be able to give you all relevant information to organise this service for you. Email us on info@fallonfunerals.com or call on 0161 371 9431
The death of a baby or child is always a tragic event for the parents and their wider family and friends.
At Fallon Family Funerals we will do everything we can to advise and support the family during this difficult time and help to provide a fitting tribute to their life.
If a baby passes at home, the process for certifying and registering the death is the same as for an adult.
If a newborn baby passes in Hospital or is stillborn, the Hospital may offer a simple funeral service, which will often be held in conjunction with other families who have lost a baby. If you prefer to make your own arrangements for an individual funeral of your choice, you are free to do so with us.
Most hospitals have bereavement midwives who are specialists in being able to advise parents on the procedures for registering the death or stillbirth of a baby. The process may vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the death. If the hospital is unable to provide specialist bereavement support, please contact us directly so we can help with advice and support.
The legal and practical requirements following the death of a child are the same as for an adult, even though the emotions and reactions may be very different.
Friendly advice and help when you need it most
Or email: info@fallonfunerals.com
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