A.P McDonald Funeral Services
Your local independent funeral directors
When A Death occurs
Losing someone close to you can be a very difficult time in your life, A.P McDonald Funeral Services are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any needs you may have. This page has been designed to guide you through the next steps following bereavement. Our experienced team of Ashley & Paul are here to advise and support you through the process of making the funeral arrangements.
When a loved one passes away expectedly at home
If your loved one passes away expectedly at home, the first thing to do is contact their doctors. The doctor or nurse will need to attend to verify the death. Ashley & Paul are here for you & your family call them and they will advise and help where they can.
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Once the doctor has visited your loved one contact us and we will arrange bringing your loved one in our care as soon as possible.
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The next working day the doctor surgery will have a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
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Once you have the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death you then need to book an appointment with the registrar in the sub-district of which the death occurred. This is where you will obtain your official death certificates and your ‘Green Certificate’. The Green Certificate needs to be given
When a Death take place in hospital
If your loved one has passed away expectedly in hospital, you will need to firstly make contact with Ashley or Paul and inform them of the death.
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We as funeral directors are not permitted to bringing your loved one into our care until we have the ‘Green Certificate’. To obtain the Green Certificate you need to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the hospital at which the death occurred. Speaking with bereavement services of that hospital you arrange to collect it or even register the death with some hospital on site.
This is where you will then be given your official death certificates and your ‘Green Certificate’.
If your loved ones wishes were to be cremated then we will have to order the necessary Cremation forms. These normally take a few days to be completed. Once these have been completed then we will arrange to bring your loved one straight into our care.
When your loved one passes away in a Nursing Home/Hospice, Residential Home or Care Home:
If your loved one has passed away expectedly in a Nursing Home or Hospice then the nursing staff will ask you to choose a funeral director. If we are your chosen funeral director then the staff there will call us to inform us of your loved ones passing. We will then bring your loved one into our care.
If you are not still with your loved one when we get there then a call will be made to the next of kin to inform you of the next steps and to say that your loved one is safe and in our chapel of rest.
You will then need to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the GP who was caring for your loved one. Once you have the certificate then an appointment needs to be made with the registrar in the sub-district of which the death occurred. You will then be given your official death certificates and the ‘Green Certificate’. This certificate needs to be given to us as soon as possible.
When a loved one passes away unexpectedly
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If your loved one passes away unexpectedly then the process of what to do next is slightly different.
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But again I would stress Ashley & Paul are here to help you every step of the way please just call 01380 698 188.
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The death will be referred to the HM Coroner who will have full control over paperwork and the release of your loved one into our care. Your loved one will remain at the local hospital where a post mortem may be necessary. If a post mortem is required then this will have to happen before we can bring your loved one into our care.
The coroner will be in contact with you to inform you on what is to happen next.
In this case, there will NOT be a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death certificate issued.
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These are guidelines Ashley, Paul or Samantha will be able to help you at any time of the day on 01380 698 188.
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'Our family is always here for you & your family'