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Bereavement services
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Bereavement services
The death of someone close to you, whether expected or sudden, can be a very distressing and troubling time.
Our Bereavement teams will help, advise and support you about the processes that need to be followed following the death of a loved one.
To find out more, please expand the sections below.
Visiting your loved one
Following the death of your loved one, we endeavour to support you through the bereavement process at this sad and difficult time.
In the first instance, your request to visit your loved one should be made through arrangements with your nominated funeral director.
In exceptional circumstances, visiting can be facilitated within our mortuary departments at the discretion of the mortuary manager. (i.e. was not present at the time of death/unable to attend the hospital at the time of death).
Visits can be arranged Monday to Friday by appointment only please contact the relevant site and team under the 'contact us' section. Please note that due to refurbishment works, visits are not currently possible at Southend mortuary.
How we can help
The death of someone close to you, whether expected or sudden, can be a very distressing and troubling time. If you are responsible for making decisions and arrangements, we can provide advice and support.
Please contact the relevant bereavement office after 10am the first working day following the death so that we can help you plan the process and explain the role of the medical examiner.
We will coordinate all the paperwork that needs to be completed after a person's death, such as the medical certificate of cause of death, (MCCD) and the necessary cremation forms. We liase closely with the medical examiners team. Once the paperwork is completed, they will inform you so that you are able to register at a registry office of your choice within the Essex locality.
Bereavement booklets
It can be difficult to take in all the information that you will hear from the Bereavement team or ward staff, so to support you further during this time, we have prepared a booklet that contains information about practical issues that you will need to consider during the first few days and weeks.
The booklets below explains some of the administrative and legal procedures involved and contains useful contacts in the form of a support directory.
Basildon
https://www.rns.uk/basildon-university-hospital-19203-2
Broomfield
https://www.rns.uk/broomfield-hospital-32198-2
Southend
Contact us
If you need any advice, please contact the appropriate team below between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays):
- Hospital deaths - if your loved one has passed away in one of our hospitals, please contact our bereavement teams as above.
- Non-hospital deaths - if your loved one passed away elsewhere (not in our hospitals) and is being cared for after death by our mortuary, or has been referred to HM Coroner, please speak with our mortuary team. Please make sure that you have the Coroners’ case reference number to hand.
Bereavement team
Basildon — call 0300 443 0116.
View accessibility information about this area on the AccessAble website at https://www.accessable.co.uk/mid-and-south-essex-nhs-foundation-trust/basildon-university-hospital/access-guides/the-dandelion-suite.
Broomfield — call 0300 443 0117. Located in B240. Alternatively, you can email mse.Bereavement.MidEssex@nhs.net.
View accessibility information about this area on the AccessAble website at https://www.accessable.co.uk/mid-and-south-essex-nhs-foundation-trust/broomfield-hospital/access-guides/b240-bereavement-suite.
Southend — call 0300 443 0115.
View accessibility information about this area on the AccessAble website at https://www.accessable.co.uk/mid-and-south-essex-nhs-foundation-trust/southend-university-hospital/access-guides/bereavement-suite.
Mortuary
If you would like to speak to our mortuary team, please call 0300 443 0380 and chose the option for the hospital site that is relevant to you.
Coroner's office
If you would like to speak to the coroner's office, please call 03330 135000.