Here To Help
At this time of sadness we extend our heartfelt condolences to you and offer our support to help make this difficult time a little easier. If you need our help at any time or are unsure what to do, please call our 24-hour telephone number 01631 562562 and a member of our team will be available to support you.
Knowing what to do when someone dies depends on how they passed, whether the death was expected or unexpected, where they were at the time and if the death occurred during the day or night. Each situation requires different steps to follow; we are here to help you take those steps and support you in arranging a fitting tribute for your loved one.
Bereavement Support
When someone dies at home
Daytime: if your loved one dies at home during the day and the death was expected, for example, if the deceased had been ill for some time, you should contact their local GP surgery who will arrange for their doctor or the on-call doctor to visit. Be mindful this may not happen immediately as the doctor may be conducting their surgery and it might be an hour or two before they can attend.
Night-time: If your loved one has passed away out-with normal working hours, between 6.00pm and 8.00am, you should call NHS24 on 111 for guidance or, if you prefer, you may decide to wait until morning before calling out the doctor.
When the doctor attends your loved one, they will certify that death has occurred and determine the cause of death. They will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) and forward this electronically to the registrar. Once the doctor has confirmed the death you should contact us to arrange to transfer your loved one into our care. Our staff are on call 24 hours a day and we aim to be in attendance within an hour of your request. If you are not the next of kin or a close relative, you should notify them right away.
When the death is referred to the Procurator Fiscal
If death occurs due to an accident, sudden death or unexplained circumstance the doctor may not be able to determine the cause of death. The doctor will be unable to issue a MCCD on this occasion. Leave the area untouched except for any resuscitation attempts.
Police Scotland will attend and arrange for a funeral director, appointed under contract, to collect the deceased and transfer them to the hospital mortuary. The procurator fiscal will be informed and a post-mortem may be required. This is part of the standard procedure in circumstances of sudden death and should be no cause for concern.
A date for a post-mortem, to determine the cause of death, will be arranged. There is no cost to the family for services relating to the post-mortem however, a funeral cannot take place until the Procurator Fiscal’s office completes their investigation to confirm the cause of death and the MCCD is issued by the hospital pathology department.
You are not obliged to use the services of the undertaker contracted to transfer your loved one for the post-mortem. You have the right to engage the services of your chosen family funeral director to arrange the funeral service once the MCCD has been issued. We understand that a sudden death, together with the Procurator Fiscal’s involvement, can be distressing and as your chosen funeral director we will liaise with Police Scotland at all stages to keep you informed. We will let you know when the MCCD has been issued and we are able to take you through the next steps of arranging your loved one’s funeral.
Arrange a Funeral
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When death occurs in hospital
Unless present when death occurs, you will be notified of the death of your loved one by the nursing staff as soon as possible. A doctor will attend your loved one to determine the cause of death and issue the MCCD. You may be offered time to sit with your loved one before they are transferred to the hospital mortuary where they will remain until you contact your chosen funeral director to make the funeral arrangements. Personal effects will be kept in a secure location by the nursing staff until you are able to collect them. Upon collection, the hospital staff will ask you to sign a receipt to acknowledge safe return of the items.
As your chosen funeral director, we will arrange to collect your loved one and bring them into our care as soon as possible.
Bereavement Support
When death occurs in a hospice or nursing home
Staff at the care or nursing home will inform you of the death of your loved one and arrange for a doctor to visit the home to confirm the death and issue the MCCD. The staff at the home usually welcome families to spend time with their loved one after death before contacting us to arrange for transfer of your loved one to our funeral home.
Medical Review Process
Following changes to the process of death certification and registration in Scotland in 2015 the deceased person may be selected at random for a medical review. These reviews are designed to check the quality and accuracy of MCCDs and improve how information about the cause of death is recorded.
About 10% of all MCCDs issued in Scotland are randomly selected for review by the Death Certification Review Service.
There are two types of review:
- Level 1 – the DCRS will aim to complete a Level 1 review within 24 hours
- Level 2 – the DCRS will aim to complete a Level 2 review within 72 hours.
Being selected for medical review is no reflection on the person who has died, or their family, although it does mean you may not be able to register the death right away. The registrar will tell you about the review and how long this may take.
You can start making funeral arrangements while the review is happening however, the funeral cannot take place until the review is complete and a Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 14) has been issued to the funeral director.
Contact Us
If you require any more assistance , do please contact us directly via phone or email. You can also use our contact form to submit an enquiry
Contact Us
We are thankful for all your kindness and support these past couple of weeks. Your thoughtfulness, care and patience have made such a difficult time so much more bearable.
Thank you for walking us through every step of the way, and allowing us time to think, to change our minds, and change them back again.
We will always remember your compassion with so much appreciation