When someone dies it is very common for the local community to call Eric F. Box Funeral Directors.
We our very proud that our telephone is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by a member of staff each and every time – we don’t have answer machines. This ensures that advice on what needs to be done and by whom, is given to families whenever they require it and, in addition, you have the reassurance of knowing that you are speaking to someone who is there to help.
If the death was expected (the deceased had probably been ill for some time), it would be normal to contact a doctor who would then visit to confirm/certify that death had occurred, and to determine the cause of death.
This may not happen immediately as the doctor may be in his/ her surgery, or the death may happen in the middle of the night, in which case you may decide to wait until morning before calling a GP.
If you did ring a doctor outside of working hours, the out-of-hours GP will attend but not necessarily the family doctor.
Once the death has been confirmed/certified, then you can ring Eric F. Box Funeral Directors and we will arrange to to visit the house or nursing home to collect your loved one and transfer them into the care of our bereavement home.
Later that day or the next, the doctor will issue a form called the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This contains a list of who can register the death, known as Informants, at the local Registry Office and what information the Registrar will require.
If you are uncertain whether someone is dead then call the doctor or dial 999 and ask for an ambulance.
If the cause of death cannot be determined then the doctor will refer the death to the Coroner.
Unless present when death occurs, the next of kin will be notified by the nursing staff as soon as possible.
Arrangements can then be made with the bereavement officer to deal with formalities. These will include collecting the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (issued by a hospital/hospice doctor), any personal possessions and discussing the possibility of organ/tissue donation.
The majority of hospitals also issue a ‘Release Form’. This needs to signed by the next of kin, enabling Eric F. Box Funeral Directors to go to the hospital/hospice and transfer your loved one into our care.
You can ring Eric F. Box Funeral Directors any time after a death in a hospital/hospice. There is no need to wait until the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death has been issued.
If a death occurs away from home then the initial formalities listed above will be completed by the doctor or hospital staff in that area.
If you wish to bring your loved one back to West Yorkshire for the funeral, then the arrangements in both areas, including transport, can be taken care of by Eric F. Box Funeral Directors.
You can phone us at any time after the death. Sometimes sooner rather than later is best, since we are there to help and advise you. Should death occur abroad then, again, we can advise accordingly as to what options are available.