Mortuary & Bereavement

The Bereavement and Mortuary Service provides practical information and support and arranges for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to be issued by a doctor when a loved one dies in hospital. There is further information available for a death at home from the Mortuary and Bereavement staff.

Services available at: Lister Hospital

At East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust we recognise that care for our patients and their family continues even after death.

Our experienced Mortuary & Bereavement team provide a caring and compassionate service, offering practical and emotional support, information, reassurance and guidance to the immediate family or next of kin of anyone who dies within the Lister Hospital.

What happens when a loved one has died

Certain formalities must be dealt with following the death of a relative or friend. Before the death can be registered, you will require a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) which states the cause of death. This is a very important certificate which may take 1-2 working days to complete, along with the necessary forms which the doctor will need to complete for the Funeral Director.

Please visit www.rns.co.uk/Lister to see an online version of our Bereavement booklet.

Following a death in hospital

Telephone the Bereavement Office on the next working day and a designated Bereavement Officer will be appointed to you so that you have continuity of care throughout these difficult, early stages.

The Bereavement Officer will advise you on the process involved in getting the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) completed and to assist you with any questions you may have. The Bereavement Officer will also arrange your appointment to visit the Lister Hospital Bereavement Office to collect the MCCD and will book your appointment at the Register Office in Hertfordshire of your choice.

In some cases the death has to be referred for discussion with the Coroner’s Office. Your Bereavement Officer will be able to advise if this is necessary.

Following a death at home/ in the community

If your loved one has died at home or elsewhere in the community and they have not been seen by their regular GP in the last 14 days or their death was sudden and unexpected, then their body may be brought into the care of the Lister Hospital Mortuary. The Hertfordshire Coroner is made aware of the death by the Police or Paramedic Service and you will have a specific Coroner’s Officer assigned to you. The Coroner’s Officer will keep you informed about whether there will be a post mortem examination or if your relative’s GP** can issue the MCCD. The post mortem will usually take place at the Lister Hospital by a consultant Pathologist and the experienced Mortuary technical staff.

Hertfordshire Coroner’s Office:

01707 292792

**If the local GP issues the MCCD, you will need to collect the certificate from the GP surgery and contact the Hertfordshire Registration Service (0300 123 4045) to book an appointment to register the death and obtain the Death Certificate.