When someone dies at home

If the death was expected

Should a person die at home and the death was expected you, should immediately call the deceased's family doctor if the death has occurred during normal surgery hours. If it happens outside of normal surgery hours then the on call doctor should be told.

You should also tell any of the deceased's relatives.

In cases of expected death a medical certificate will be given by the doctor stating cause of death.

You will also be told as to how to register the death.

• Registering a death

The next thing to do is to arrange for a funeral director to remove the body to a funeral home.

• When a ratepayer has died

If the death is unexpected

You should dial 999 if someone dies unexpectedly. The operator will tell you what to do to see if the person can be resuscitated.

When ambulance staff arrive they will try resuscitation or else will confirm that the individual has died.

When a death is unexpected the police will also be told and will arrange for the body to be moved on behalf of the coroner so that an autopsy may take place to find out the cause of death. 

• Coroners and post mortem information
• Contact Coroners office