The bereavement service team offers support and advice to the relatives and friends of our patients who have died, whether patients at any of our hospitals including James Cook University Hospital and The Friarage or within any of our community services.
This is not a bereavement counselling service, but we can support you in a number of ways.
In order to register the death you will need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) which is completed by a doctor and the medical examiner. Bereavement advisers will contact you when this is complete (please note this may not be available straight away, especially over a weekend as it is a legal requirement that the doctor who has cared for the patient, and not the doctor on call, completes the MCCD).
Bereavement advisers will:
- Advise you what to do next.
- Book the registration for a convenient time and date.
If the death occurred at The James Cook University Hospital it will be with Middlesbrough Registry Office. If the death occurred at the Friarage Hospital it will be Northallerton registrars and if the death occurred at Redcar Primary Care Hospital it will be Redcar Registry Office. - Offer to put you in contact with counsellors, chaplains or other support groups, if requested.
- Advise you on how to arrange viewings for your relative.
- Give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about any other matters.
You can contact the service by calling 01642 835929 or 01642 835638.
There is an answerphone facility outside of these hours. If you would like to leave a message the bereavement team will contact you on the next working day.
We have produced two booklets on our bereavement services at The James Cook University Hospital and the Friarage Hospital, which are available via the links below:
Please note the trust is independent of any funeral service provider.