Bereavement services

The death of someone close to you, whether expected or sudden, can be a very distressing and troubling time.

Our Bereavement teams will help, advise and support you about the processes that need to be followed following the death of a loved one.

To find out more, please expand the sections below.

Visiting your loved one

Following the death of your loved one, we endeavour to support you through the bereavement process at this sad and difficult time.

In the first instance, your request to visit your loved one should be made through arrangements with your nominated funeral director.

In exceptional circumstances,  visiting can be facilitated within our mortuary departments at the discretion of the mortuary manager.

Visits can be arranged Monday to Friday by appointment only please contact the relevant site and team under the 'contact us' section.

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How we can help

The death of someone close to you, whether expected or sudden, can be a very distressing and troubling time. If you are responsible for making decisions and arrangements, we can provide advice and support.  

Our bereavement office will contact you after 9am the first working day following the death so that we can help you plan the process and explain the role of the Medical Examiner. 

We will coordinate all of the paperwork that needs to be completed after a person's death, such as the medical certificate of cause of death, and the necessary cremation forms.

There is an onsite registration service available in the Bereavement Suite(s) at any of our hospitals and the team will book an appointment at your convenience for you to register the death when the necessary documentation has been completed by the doctor.

You are welcome to bring a friend or family member to support you at this meeting.

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Bereavement booklets

It can be difficult to take in all the information that you will hear from the Bereavement team or ward staff, so to support you further during this time,  we have prepared a booklet that contains information about practical issues that you will need to consider during the first few days and weeks.

The booklets below explains some of the administrative and legal procedures involved and contains useful contacts in the form of a support directory.

Basildon

https://www.rns.uk/basildon-university-hospital-19203-2

Broomfield

https://www.rns.uk/broomfield-hospital-32198-2

Southend

https://www.rns.uk/southend-university-hospital

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Contact us

If you have experienced the loss of a loved one or friend, please contact the appropriate team below between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays):

  • Hospital deaths - if your loved one has passed away in one of our hospitals, please contact our Bereavement teams.
  • Non-hospital deaths - if your loved one passed away elsewhere (not in our hospitals) and is being cared for after death, or has been referred to the Coroners, please speak with our Mortuary team. Please make sure that you have the Coroners’ case reference number to hand.

Basildon

Bereavement team - call 01268 394850.

Mortuary team - call 01268 394720.

Broomfield

Bereavement team - call 01245 514084, 6558, or 4820. Located in B240. Alternatively, you can email mse.Bereavement.MidEssex@nhs.net.

Mortuary team - call 01245 516828.

Southend

Bereavement team - call 01702 385494.

Mortuary team - call 01702 385216.

Coroner's office - call 03330 135000.

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