Death and bereavement
Find out where you can get help and support for bereavement.
What to do when someone dies
The first thing to do when someone dies depends on the circumstances of their death.
- If someone dies at home and their death was expected, please contact the surgery. You should also call their nearest relative, if that isn’t you.
- If someone dies unexpectedly, call 999.
- If someone dies in hospital, the hospital will explain what you need to do.
What the surgery does when someone dies
When you tell us that someone has died, we:
- notify the medical examiner’s office and
- provide them with the medical information that they need about the person who has died.
The medical examiner's office will then sign the death certificate. They'll also send an electronic copy to the registrar’s office at the council, and contact you to:
- Explain the cause of death
- Answer any questions you have
- Inform you that you can make an appointment to register the death.
The medical examiner may decide that the death needs further investigation. This may be because the death is unexpected, or the cause is unknown. In these cases, they will contact the coroner.
You can read more about what to do after someone dies on the Surrey County Council website.
Bereavement support
The following organisations provide help and support with bereavement. You can contact them yourself - you don’t need to speak to a GP first.
If you prefer, you can still request an appointment with the surgery.
Cruse Bereavement Care
Support, advice and information for children, young people and adults when someone dies. The charity also works to enhance society's care of bereaved people.
Request an appointment at the surgery
If the services above are not suitable, you can request an appointment at the surgery.
Other organisations that could help you
There are a number of other NHS services and charity groups that work in our area.