Hospital staff will usually guide you through the first steps, but there are still several practical matters to deal with, including the medical examiner process, registering the death, choosing a funeral director and arranging for your loved one to be brought into their care.
This guide explains what to do when someone dies in hospital and what you can expect during the days that follow.
What Happens Immediately After Someone Dies in Hospital?
You will usually be given the opportunity to spend some time with your loved one before they are transferred to the hospital mortuary.
The hospital’s bereavement team or ward staff will explain what happens next and provide details of who you need to speak to.
You do not need to make every decision immediately. It is perfectly acceptable to take some time before contacting a funeral director or beginning the funeral arrangements.
The Hospital Bereavement Team
They can explain the hospital’s procedures, answer questions about documentation and tell you when the medical examiner process has been completed.
They may also help with the collection of personal belongings and explain what will happen if the death needs to be referred to HM Coroner.
If the hospital does not have a dedicated bereavement team, the ward staff will usually tell you who to contact.
What Is the Medical Examiner Process?
The cause of death is then reviewed by an independent medical examiner. A medical examiner is a senior doctor who was not involved in treating the person who has died.
The medical examiner’s office may contact the family to explain the recorded cause of death and give you the opportunity to ask questions about the person’s care.
Once this process has been completed, the medical examiner’s office will normally confirm when you are able to register the death.
You should wait for this confirmation before making an appointment with the register office.
For more information about the wider process, see our guide to what to do when someone dies.
When Does a Hospital Death Have to Be Referred to the Coroner?
A death may need to be referred to HM Coroner if the cause is unknown, the death was sudden or unexpected, or there are circumstances that require further investigation.
The Coroner’s Officer will explain what happens next.
In some cases, the coroner may arrange a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death. This can mean that registration and funeral arrangements take a little longer.
You can still contact your chosen funeral director while the coroner is carrying out their enquiries. We can explain what can be arranged at that stage and liaise with the relevant authorities when necessary.
How Do You Register a Death After Someone Dies in Hospital?
A death should normally be registered within five days of receiving confirmation that registration can proceed.
After registration, you will usually receive the certificate for burial or cremation, sometimes referred to as the green form. This is required before the funeral can take place.
Our guide to registering a death explains the process in more detail.
You can also find current official guidance on the GOV.UK website.
When Should You Contact a Funeral Director?
You do not have to wait until the death has been registered before contacting a funeral director.
Many families prefer to speak to us soon after the death so that they know what will happen next and can begin discussing the funeral arrangements at their own pace.
Once Bennetts Funeral Directors has been instructed, we can liaise directly with the hospital and arrange for your loved one to be brought into our care as soon as the hospital is able to release them.
The hospital may ask the family to complete an authorisation form confirming which funeral director has been appointed.
Where Is Someone Kept After They Die in Hospital?
They will remain there until the necessary procedures have been completed and your chosen funeral director has permission to collect them.
Once the hospital confirms that your loved one can be released, we can arrange to bring them into our care.
What Happens to Personal Belongings?
The bereavement office or ward staff will tell you how and when the belongings can be collected. You may be asked to provide identification or sign to confirm that the items have been returned.
If valuables were being held separately by the hospital, there may be an additional process for releasing them.
Can You Start Arranging the Funeral Before Registration?
You may wish to talk about the type of funeral, burial or cremation, funeral vehicles, flowers, music and other personal choices.
However, the funeral itself cannot normally take place until the necessary documentation has been issued.
If you are unsure where to begin, our guide to choosing a funeral director may also be helpful.
Support After a Death in Hospital
The hospital bereavement team will guide you through their procedures, while Bennetts Funeral Directors can help with the next stages, including liaising with the hospital, bringing your loved one into our care and beginning the funeral arrangements.
Bennetts Funeral Directors has been supporting families across Essex since 1891. If someone has died in hospital and you need advice, you can contact our Brentwood team on 01277 210104 or our Billericay team on 01277 627492.
What to do When Someone Dies in Hospital Frequently Asked Questions
How long does someone stay in a hospital mortuary after they die?
Can I see my loved one after they have died in hospital?
Do I have to use a funeral director recommended by the hospital?
Can a funeral director collect someone before the death is registered?
What happens if the hospital refers the death to the coroner?
Who do I contact first after someone dies in hospital?
Arranging A Funeral Further Guidance
What To Do When Someone Dies
This guide explains the first practical steps to take when someone dies at home, in a care home, in hospital, unexpectedly or while abroad.
What To Do When Someone Dies At Home
This guide explains exactly who to contact, how to handle medical equipment, and the legal timeframes for registering the death in the UK.