Bereavement support

Losing someone you care about can be overwhelming, and the days that follow may feel confusing and emotional. During this time, there are also practical things that need to be arranged, which can feel like a lot to manage. Our bereavement support team is here to guide you through what needs to be done, offering gentle, practical advice and compassionate support.

Services we provide

At what can be a stressful and confusing time, our staff are on standby to offer you and your family emotional support.

Our bereavement booklet provides information and guidance on who can help and where further information can be obtained, as well as explaining procedures such as registering a death and arranging a funeral.

Medical examiner service

This section gives information about the legal processes and arrangements that are necessary after death.

The two practical tasks that you need to do are:

Talk with the medical examiner office regarding the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
Obtain a death certificate

A medical examiner is an independent senior consultant/doctor working at West Suffolk Hospital to make sure that the information contained on the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) is accurate and that referrals to the coroner are performed in a timely and appropriate manner.

Their first responsibility is to the deceased and their next of kin. They make sure that the law is applied correctly so that referrals to the coroner are right first time, every time and that there is accuracy in the causes of death.

The medical examiner has to be independent and therefore will not have been involved in the care of the deceased. They will review the care records and along with the treating doctor, ascertain a cause of death to the best of their knowledge and belief, to enable the death certificate to be written. Where a cause of death cannot be ascertained or, if during review it is found to be required, the medical examiner and referring doctor will make a referral to the coroner.

A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is required to register a death.

If the death of your loved one needs to be referred to the coroner, the medical examiner officers will tell you about this and the process which will need to be followed.

For all deaths that don’t need to be referred to the coroner, the treating doctor will complete the MCCD and send this to the medical examiner office, together with any supporting paperwork.

The MCCD and health records will then be reviewed by an independent doctor, known as a medical examiner.

There is also an opportunity for you to raise any concerns you have regarding care or treatment or ask questions about the cause of death.

This is a new, official process for all deaths which do not need a coroner.

Once the medical examiner has reviewed the MCCD and is satisfied with what is written, the medical examiner officer will call you to go through the cause of death. If you have no questions or concerns, the medical examiner officer will then send the MCCD over to the registrar on your behalf.

You will then be able to make an appointment a couple of hours later to register your loved one’s death.

Register a death

You will need to book an appointment to register your loved one’s death.

Suffolk

Telephone the Bury St Edmunds office for appointments at any Suffolk office: 0345 607 2060

You will be asked to give some information to assist the registrar in preparing the registration.

Norfolk

Telephone: 0344 800 8020

You will be asked to give some information to assist the registrar in preparing the registration.

What to take to the registrar’s office

When you attend the registrar’s office, you will be asked to provide information about the person who has died. It can help to bring:

Their full name (including any previous or maiden names)
Date and place of birth
Most recent occupation
Usual home address
Details of any pension or social security benefits they received
Date and place of death (shown on the medical certificate)
Date of birth of their spouse or civil partner (if applicable)
NHS medical card, if available

Helpful information when registering a death

To make the registration process easier, it can be useful to take official documents that confirm the details you will be giving, such as passports, birth certificates or marriage certificates. This helps ensure that the information recorded is correct, as changes after registration can be difficult and may incur a fee.

After registration, the registrar will provide you with the official death certificate. They will also issue a document known as the “green form” (committal certificate), or send it directly to the funeral director. This form is required for the funeral to go ahead.

You can request multiple copies of the death certificate. There is a fee for each certified copy, and having extra copies can be helpful when dealing with financial and legal matters. Current certificate prices are available on the Suffolk and Norfolk County Council websites.

Contact details

Bereavement Support Officer

Telephone: 01284 713410

Medical Examiner’s Office

West Suffolk Hospital

Telephone: 01284 713647

Available Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm.

A secure answerphone is available outside these hours.

Popular tasks

Bereavement support

On this page

Services we provide

Medical examiner service

Register a death

Suffolk

Norfolk

What to take to the registrar’s office

Helpful information when registering a death

Contact details

Bereavement support

On this page

Services we provide

Medical examiner service

What is a medical examiner?

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)

Register a death

Suffolk

Norfolk

What to take to the registrar’s office

Helpful information when registering a death

Contact details