Introduction Removal & arrangements treating doctor will explain the post mortem procedure and answer any If you are reading this, someone close to You need to contact a questions you may have. you may have just died—please accept our (undertaker) as soon as possible . The Not all patients who die in hospital condolences on your loss. funeral director will be able to help you need a post mortem. It is always difficult to deal with the arrange the removal and funeral. The of a person close to you. As well as the funeral director can also give you advice on There are two types of post mortem (PM): emotional issues that arise, a number of choosing a coffin, , , 1. ’s Post Mortem practical matters have to be dealt with. , transport, newspaper notices We hope this leaflet will inform you about and costs. Certain by law have to be reported what happens following a death in hospital If you do not know a funeral director, see to the coroner. The coroner may order a and help you deal with some of the the Golden Pages or the Association of Post Mortem to establish the cause of a questions or issues that come up. Funeral Directors of Ireland Website at death which is unexpected or unexplained, http://www.iafd.ie Consent from the family is not needed. What happens next? You may be asked to formally identify the deceased in the presence of a member of All deaths in hospital need to be confirmed Wexford General Hospital An Garda Siochana. by a doctor as soon as possible. If you are Following a Coroner’s Post Mortem, the present at the time of death, the nursing Chaplaincy Service death is registered by the Coroner. staff will arrange for you to spend time The Hospital Chaplain may be contacted This can take 6-12 months to complete. An after the death at the bedside of the via hospital switchboard on 053-9153000 Interim which may be person. This can be a difficult time for you or by asking nursing staff on the ward to acceptable to banks, insurance companies but seeing the person dead can help you to contact the chaplain for you. and other institutions can be provided by begin to accept what has happened and to Chaplaincy hours in Wexford General the Coroner's office on request. comfort each other. After this, the Hospital are: deceased person will be removed to the 8am – 6pm Saturday through Thursday. 2. Hospital (Non-coroner’s) Post Mortem hospital mortuary. If you were unable to Outside of these hours, an on-call service spend time at the bedside after death, you is accessible via hospital switchboard. You A Hospital Post Mortem usually occurs at can arrange to visit the mortuary if you may prefer to contact a minister for the request of the treating doctor but wish. religion already known to you. requests may also come from the family. Consent must be obtained from the family. Visiting the mortuary It is a legal requirement in Ireland that Post Mortem Examination each death is recorded and registered. You can arrange to visit the mortuary by contacting the Nursing Management Office A post mortem is an examination of the Following a Hospital Post Mortem, the via the hospital switchboard on 053- body of a person who has died in order to death notification form may take 3-4 9153000. establish the and/or months to get sent out — you (the family) examine the effects of treatment. The will need to register the death.

How do I register the death and Sources of Information & Support obtain a Death Certificate? Citizens Information Services Wexford General Hospital 1. Within 3 weeks of the death, the is a good source of information on issues Director of Nursing’s Office will post related to death and bereavement including out the Death Notification Form to the Social Welfare benefits, bereavement grants, & deceased person’s next-of-kin. dealing with the person’s estate. 2. The family need to complete Part 2 of http://www.citizensinformation.ie this form & bring it to any Civil Lo-Call 1890 777 121

Registration Service for Births, Deaths & Marriages (see * below). Irish Hospice Foundation, 3. The family will be asked to sign the Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau St. Dublin 2 death register in the presence of the 01 6793188 Registrar. www.hospice-foundation.ie 4. The Registrar will issue the Death Certificate. Barnardos , Christchurch Square, Christchurch, Dublin 8 *There is a Civil Registration Service for 01 4530355 Births, Deaths & Marriages in Grogan's www.barnardos.ie Road, Wexford Tel 053 91 85631 or Wexford Bereavement Care Services, 053 91 85643 or 053 91 85606. St. Bridget’s Centre and in the Health 053-9123086 Centres in Enniscorthy, New Ross and Gorey. General Information on Grieving Information for

Death Certification Queries There is no ‘right’ way to grieve the loss of families following a death in The office of the Director of Nursing may someone close to you. Following a death, hospital be contacted via hospital switchboard on family members may feel and cope differently 053-9153144 if you have queries in depending on the relationship they had with relation to a death notification from. the deceased.

Coroner in Co. Wexford: It is important to allow yourself to grieve in Dr. Sean M. Nixon, Gorey your own way. It is usually helpful to talk This leaflet relates to sudden and 053 9421336 about the person who has died and about how expected death you are feeling.

Death ends a life, not a relationship Developed by the Standing Committee on Dying, Death & Bereavement, Wexford General Hospital Issue date: 2012 Review date: 2014