Use this link to enable the ReciteMe accessibility toolkit

Accessibility tools

Enable ReciteMe accessibility tools
Home > Services and Departments > Bereavement

Bereavement

The Bereavement Service is available Monday-Friday 10am – 4pm.

The bereavement service is available Monday-Friday 10am – 4pm.

If a patient dies whilst in our hospitals the designated next-of-kin should contact the bereavement office in the hospital where the person died on the following working day.

The Bereavement Services team plays a key role in supporting both families and staff following the death of a patient. Their role ensures that processes are completed correctly, while also providing compassionate care to relatives during a very difficult time. The Bereavement Services team provides a bridge between families, clinical teams, and legal processes, ensuring care, clarity, and compassion after a patient’s death.

Core responsibilities

Paperwork and processes

  • Coordinate the completion of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

  • Liaise with medical examiners, doctors, the coroner (if required), and the registrar’s office.

  • Ensure all legal and Trust procedures following a death are followed correctly.

Family liaison

  • Act as the first point of contact for relatives once a patient has died.

  • Organise a viewing for family and friends to spend time with their loved one and say their farewells.

  • Provide clear, compassionate information about next steps (registering the death, funeral arrangements).

  • Allow space for questions and ensure concerns are passed to the clinical team if needed.

  • Signpost families to relevant support services (chaplaincy, counselling, community bereavement services).

Emotional and pastoral support

  • Offer a calm, supportive presence at a time of grief and shock.

  • Respect and facilitate cultural, religious, and spiritual needs wherever possible.

Support for staff

For staff members who require further support. Please follow this link to view our staff intranet page.

Why this role matters

The bereavement process is often a family’s lasting memory of hospital care. Sensitive, well-managed support ensures that:

  • Families feel respected, informed, and supported.

  • Staff are confident in their responsibilities and know where to seek advice.

  • Legal and organisational requirements are met consistently.

Other useful contacts for support:

  • Registering a death – For more information please visit www.gov.uk/register-a-death or call Lincolnshire County Council on 01522 782 244
  • The ‘Tell Us Once’ service allows you to inform multiple government departments and services using just one central contact. You can only contact them once you have received the unique reference number that the registrar gave to you when you registered the death. Call 0800 085 7308 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm or visit www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once
  • You will also need to inform the person’s bank, utility companies, insurance policies, solicitor regarding their will, landlord or housing association separately; but please remember there is no immediate rush so please give yourself time. You can also remove a person from direct marketing lists to stop you receiving generic mail by calling 0808 168 9607 or visiting www.stopmail.co.uk 
  • For advice around reporting a death, wills, probate and Inheritance Tax, visit the Government website www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages/death 
  • Lincolnshire County Council’s website for information and advice following a death  www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/deaths 
  • Lincolnshire medical examiner service reviews non coronial deaths both in the community and in hospital.www.ulh.nhs.uk/services/medical-examiner
  • Palliative and end of life care Lincolnshire https://eolc.co.uk
  • AGE UK (working with and for older people) offer a free national helpline 0800 6781602 or www.ageuk.org.uk
  • Citizens Advice Bureau 08001448848 or www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  • Cruse Bereavement Support (promoting the wellbeing of bereaved people) 08088081677 or www.cruse.org.uk
  • Lincolnshire Centre for Grief and Loss (including Baby Loss Support Group, as well as funded and subsidised counselling) 01522 546168 or www.lcgl.org.uk
  • Macmillan Cancer Support (offering emotional and financial support) 08088080000 or www.macmillan.org.uk
  • Marie Curie Cancer Care (providing free nursing care and support to patients and families) 08000902309 or www.mariecurie.org.uk
  • St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice (providing palliative and end-of-life care to adults living with a life-limiting or terminal illness in Lincolnshire) 03000200694 or www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk
  • The Samaritans (supporting those experiencing distress or despair) National helpline 116123 or www.smaritans.org
  • The Compassionate Friends (supporting bereaved parents and their families) 0345 123 2304 or www.tcf.org.uk