Introduction

Please accept our deepest sympathy at this difficult time. We have written this to help you understand some of the practical arrangements that you now have to make. We understand that it is often difficult to remember all the information that you are given when someone has died, and we hope that this leaflet will help you with some of the arrangements.

 

At Velindre Hospital

• The Velindre Hospital receptionist will email the cause of death certificate to the Registrar at Cardiff Registry Office. We need to give the Registrar a telephone number for the next of kin/person who will be arranging the funeral so they know who to contact. Please let the nursing staff know the name and the best number to contact you.
• The Registrar will then get in contact directly with you to make an appointment to attend the registry office.
• Whilst it is a legal requirement to register the death within 5 working days exemptions can be made where processes relating to the Medical Examiner or Coroner’s Office mean that the paperwork required is not able to be provided within that time frame.”
• We may ask you if you want the funeral to be a burial or a cremation so we can fill in the necessary forms.
• The ward nurses will discuss with you the best way to collect any personal items that are still at the hospital

You will need to contact a funeral director of your choice who will help you with the funeral arrangements. You don’t have to wait until the death certificate is issued. You will find a list of funeral directors in the phone book.

 

Registering the death

The Registrar will contact the next of kin to make an appointment to attend the registry office in Cardiff. You do not need to come to Velindre Cancer Centre to collect the death certificate.

Phone: 029 2087 1680

Website: www.cardiff.gov.uk

E-mail: registrars@cardiff.gov.uk

You will be able to buy certified copies of the registration of death certificate which you will need for any pension claims, insurance policies and financial issues. (The number of copies you need will vary from person to person.) You may want to ask for more copies when you register the death because the price increases if you need one at a later date. Each copy costs about £11.00.

 

Who you need to tell

You will need to tell the following people about the death:

• Local social services, for example, meals on wheels, day centres and home care
• Any other hospital the person was going to
• The family doctor
• Banks and building societies
• The local social security office (to cancel any pensions, allowances or benefits)
• Any employer or trade union
• A child’s or young person’s teacher, employer or college if a relative or close friend has died
• The car insurance company, if appropriate. This is because people driving a car that is insured in the name of the person who has died are not legally insured.

Ask the registrar about “Just tell us once...” which is a service that can help give information to the Department for Work and Pensions, who can then pass on the information to a number of other government departments and local services for you.

 

Help with the cost of the funeral 

The cost of the funeral may cause financial difficulties for some people. Under certain circumstances, you may be eligible for help from the social fund funeral payment. If you or your partner receive one of the benefits or tax credits listed below and are the person responsible for the funeral expenses, you may be able to get help from the fund. 

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Pension Credit
• Income based jobseekers allowance
• Income based employment and support allowance
• Universal credit
• Child tax credit paid at a rate that exceeds the family element
• Working tax credit that includes the disabled worker or severe disability element

The person who has died must also have lived in the UK at the date of their death.

You may wish to seek advice regarding which benefits or grants that you may be entitled to or you may want to speak to someone for support. You can contact the Velindre and Macmillan Welfare Rights Advisors based within the Supportive Care Team. Please telephone 02920 316277 or email VCC.SupportiveCare@wales.nhs.uk

 

Sources of support

The death of someone close to you can be one of the most devastating experiences that you have to face in your life. It is often comforting to share your grief with your family, close friends, GP or minister of a religion. Sometimes, people find it helpful to talk to someone who can give them advice or who can just listen to them. 

For help with finding support in your area, contact The Supportive Care Team at Velindre hospital on 02920 196132

The following organisations may be able to give you specialist advice and support.

 

Age Concern

Community Support Project service for people over 55 

Phone: 029 20683686

 

Citizens’ Advice Bureau 

Phone: 03444 772020

 

Compassionate Friends

A national self-help organisation for bereaved parents

Phone: 0345 1232304

Website: www.tcf.org.uk

 

Cruse Bereavement Service

Support for individuals and families who have been bereaved

 

Cruse Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Phone: 029 2022 61661 (10am to 12 noon, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only)

 

Cruse Bereavement Helpline

Phone: 0808 808 1677 (9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)

Website: www.cruse.uk

 

Probate Registry of Wales

Phone: 029 2047 4373 (9.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday)

 

Samaritans

A confidential helpline is open 24 hours a day

Cardiff and the Vale - phone: 029 2034 4022

Bridgend - phone: 01656 662333

Newport - phone: 01633 259000

 

Tenovus Cancer Support Line 

Phone: 0808 808 1010 (9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday)

Website: www.tenovus.com

 

Winston’s Wish Family Line 

Provide support and resources for children, teenagers and parents 

Phone: 0845 203 0405 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)

Website: www.winstonswish.org.uk

 

Maggie’s Centre Cardiff 

Telephone number: 029 22 408024 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)