Bereavement service

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We have dedicated staff and services at the Trust to help families and friends with the administrative processes when someone dies in hospital.

If you are visiting this page after the loss of your relative / friend at one of our hospitals please accept our condolences. A death, whether expected or not, is highly traumatic for everyone involved and many people are unsure what to do afterwards.

Our Bereavement Services provide information and guidance and are here to help support families with the administrative processes required after someone dies.   

  • Bereavement Office

    The Trust has 2 Bereavement Offices:

    HospitalTelephoneEmailLocation
    Worcestershire RoyalTel: 01905 760762wah-tr.berw@nhs.netGround Floor, Aconbury North building

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    Alexandra HospitalTel: 01527 512083wah-tr.bera@nhs.netMain Entrance Corridor opposite the Leage of friends coffee shop 

    Both offices are open Monday to Friday 9.00am -4.00pm and are staffed by our Bereavement Officers. Bereavement Officers are clerical staff who deal with the administration of all hospital deaths and meet with families to provide death certification and information about what to do next. Both offices work on an appointment system to ensure that everything is ready for you when you arrive at the hospital.

    Relatives and Next of Kin (NOK) should contact the Bereavement Office after a death to discuss what will happen next. The Bereavement Officers will keep you informed of any delays due to the death having to be referred to the Coroner or if the doctor who cared for the patient is not available to complete the medical certificate.

    The time taken to finalise paperwork can vary so please contact the Bereavement Officers before travelling to the office to check that everything is completed and ready for you to collect.

    During your appointment with us we will be able to:

    • Provide you with the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
    • Explain the procedures for registration of death
    • Return any remaining property to you

    We understand that waiting can be very distressing and will arrange completion of all documentation as quickly as possible and keep you informed of any delays.

  • Useful information

    Any death that occurs in Worcestershire must be registered in Worcestershire.

    Registration is a face-to-face appointment lasting approximately 45 minutes at several different locations in Worcestershire which can be made online using the following link: http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20316/deaths or by telephoning 01905 768181.

    The Bereavement team can provide you with advice about registering the death.

  • Coroner's Office

    Occasionally the doctor may need to discuss a death with the Coroner before a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is issued, so there will be a delay in you obtaining the MCCD.The doctor or Bereavement Officers will advise you if this is the case.

    The Coroner's Office can be contacted on 01905 822330.Further information is available via this link: http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/coroner

  • Information leaflets

    Bereavement information for family or next of kin during the Coronavirus Outbreak

    Download Bereavement Information for Family/or Next of Kin during the current Coronovirus-19 Outbreak