GUIDANCE
At hospital
How the hospital bereavement office works, what paperwork and belongings you will collect, and how we work alongside them.
When a death happens in hospital, the ward will look after the immediate practicalities and refer you to the hospital bereavement office. They usually telephone you the next working day to arrange an appointment.
You can appoint us straight away — you do not need to wait for the paperwork. Simply tell the ward or the bereavement office that Butterfields are your funeral directors and we will liaise with them from that point on, collecting your loved one as soon as the medical certificate has been completed.
What to expect
Tell them who we are
Name Butterfields and we take it from there
Medical examiner review
A short scrutiny of the notes and then that is sent to the registrar registration
The bereavement office
they’ll contact you to let you know, the death certificate has been sent to the medical examiner.
Medical certificate
Completed by the hospital doctor, then sent to the medical examiner
Personal effects
Returned to you at the appointment
We collect
From the hospital mortuary once paperwork is complete
Talk to us
No obligation, and no charge for a conversation. We answer the telephone in person, day or night.
What happens next
01
You appoint us
02
Paperwork completed
The hospital and medical examiner release the certificate.
03
Into our care
We collect your loved one and bring them to Swinton.
Who to contact
| Organisation | What they help with | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital bereavement office | Certificate, appointment and belongings | [local hospital] |
| Rotherham Register Office | Registering the death | 01709 823 542 |
| Barnsley Register Office | Registering the death | 01226 773555 |
| Doncaster Register Office | Registering the death | 01302 735222 |
| Sheffield Register Office | Registering the death | 0114 203 9423 |
| Butterfields — 24 hours | Bringing your loved one into our care | 01709 571 777 |
Not sure what to do next?
Send us a message and we will reply the same working day — or telephone us at any hour if the death has just happened.