Practical Information
All deaths are reviewed by an independent doctor known as a Medical Examiner. The Medical Examiner is not an employee of BUHB – they are totally independent.
The Medical Examiner will scrutinise the patient’s medical notes, the information is then passed to a medical examiner’s officer. The medical examiner’s officer will speak to the doctor who last treated the patient.
If the cause of death is agreed, the medical examiner’s officer will contact the relative, they will tell them what has been agreed as the cause of death and also ask if there were any concerns about the patient’s treatment or care before they died.
Providing there are no concerns the medical examiner’s officer will send the completed medical certificate to the Registrar’s Office in the District were the death occurred.
The Registrar will call the relative to make an appointment to go to the office to register the death.
Tel: 02921 500699
Occasionally it will be necessary for the doctor to inform the Senior Coroner about the patient’s death. It is the coroner who will decide one of the following:
- Agrees with the cause of death and will issue Part A to the registrar
- Will order a post mortem to establish a cause of death.
- Will open and adjourn inquest without post mortem.
If 1 the Registrar will ring the relative with an appointment.
If - 2 or 3 a Coroner’s Officer will contact the relative.
Senior Coroner - North East / Central Wales
County Building,
Wynnstay Road,
Ruthin,
Denbighshire
LL15 1YN
Tel: 01824 708047
Email: coroner@denbighshire.gov.uk
Senior Coroner - North West Wales
Shirehall Street,
Caernarfon,
Gwynedd
LL55 1SH
01286 672804
Coroner’s Officers
Tel: 01745 588816
“Tell Us Once” is a free service supported by the Register Office that offers families assistance in informing local and central government departments of your loved one’s death at a difficult time.
With your permission relevant Local Council Services and Central Government Departments will be informed of the bereavement including: Department for Work and Pensions, Passport Office, Driving Licence and War Pensions.
You will need to provide the deceased’s National Insurance number (if known) and relevant documents (Passport, Driving Licence, Library Pass, Blue Badge for example). If all the information is not available at the time of your appointment with the Registrar, they will explain how to access the service from home using a reference number and free-phone telephone contact service with the Department for Work and Pensions. This service is available up to 28 days following the registration of a death.
Please tell the Register Office you would like to use the “Tell Us Once” service when you telephone to make your appointment with them or alternatively visit www.gov.uk to find out more information.
Not everyone who dies can give the gift of life through organ and tissue donation, for many reasons.
If organ and/or tissue donation is a possibility a member of staff will contact you to discuss your loved one’s last known decision.
You may also contact Tissue Services for more information directly on 0800 432 0559.
For any advice you can call the 24 hour Organ Donor Referral line on 03000 20 30 40 or Tissue Services on 0800 432 0599.