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An Associated University Hospital of Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Bereavement Service Cellular Pathology Clinical Support Services 29th May 2014

Role of bereavement office

An Associated University Hospital of Brighton and Sussex Medical School

• Arranges for the doctors to complete the medical certificate of cause of

death (MCCD) so that the next of kin can proceed with funeral arrangements

• Organises the completion of the cremation papers if required
• Point of contact for the relatives of the bereaved who have died in our

hospital

• Returning patient property and valuables to the next of kin
• Making all the necessary arrangements when a patient dies with no

next of kin

• Oversee the process for a consented (hospital) post mortem
• Informing the GP about the death of a patient

Slide 3

Reason for the move

• May 2012 Serious Incident declared
• Delay in arranging the funeral for patient A who had no next
• f kin and who lived outside of the local area.
• Root cause identified as the line management of the

bereavement office.

• Recommendation in the report was a review of the line

management of the bereavement office

• National End of Life Care Programme – recommended good

practice the amalgamation of bereavement and mortuary services.

Need for change

• Talking to the junior doctors – reluctance to attend the bereavement office
• Complaints from PALS
• Working practices were creating a bottle-neck within the mortuary resulting in

capacity issues

• Informal complaints from the Coroner’s office
• May 2012 Serious Incident declared
• National End of Life Care Programme – recommended good practice the

amalgamation of bereavement and mortuary services.

An Associated University Hospital of Brighton and Sussex Medical School

What has been achieved so far

An Associated University Hospital of Brighton and Sussex Medical School Physical

• Signs directing people to the bereavement office
• Glass panel in the door and key code lock on order
• Office re-design
• Coffee and tea offered

Staffing

• Clear line management structure
• Bank staff made substantive
• Early retirement of full time bereavement officer
• New appointment made (interviewed with Jane Penny)

What has been achieved so far

Operational

• Deaths in A&E – relatives are now supported by the bereavement office who

work closely with the Coroner’s Officers

• Funeral directors collect cremation papers from the mortuary
• PC’s in the office for the doctors to complete the PTS mortality review
• Closure working between the mortuary and bereavement staff
• Cross training of staff
• Appreciation of each others workload
• NHS net email account for secure communication

Slide 6

Result of changes

• GP notification
• Professional notice including the cause of death are sent to the GP
• Mortality reviews
• Better working relationships with junior and senior doctors
• Improved communication with the Coroner
• Post mortem reports available for mortality reviews

Slide 10