There are many practical matters to manage following a bereavement and this page provides some help and guidance.
Please contact the relevant bereavement office on the next working day following your relatives death to speak to our team.
If we're unable to take your call, please leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible. Please do not come into the hospital.
Good Hope Hospital
Office open 10:00 – 16:00, Monday - Friday.
Heartlands Hospital
Office open 10:00 – 16:00, Monday - Friday.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
Office open 10:00 – 16:00, Monday - Friday.
Solihull Hospital
Office open 10:00 – 16:00, Monday - Friday.
The following information should be useful in helping you to take care of some of the important arrangements you will need to make.
Viewing the deceased person's body
You are encouraged to view the deceased person when they are with the funeral director, as this is often a more comfortable and suitable environment for such a sensitive event.
However, there are occasions when you may wish to view the patient whilst they are still in the hospital mortuary. If you do wish to view the deceased, we advise only to have one viewing.
There may be circumstances when it is not possible to view the patient while they are still in the hospital mortuary. If you do wish to view the deceased, we advise only to have one viewing.
There may be circumstances where it is not possible to view the deceased and this will be discussed with the next of kin.
An appointment must be made by contacting the hospital ward where the deceased was cared for.
Viewing of the weekend is only considered in exceptional circumstances and is restricted to close family and friends of the deceased. Requests can be made via the hospital switchboard.
Funeral arrangements
We would encourage you contact a funeral director as soon as possible. They will discuss funeral arrangements with you and arrange for your relative or friend to be transferred into their care.
There may be some circumstances where we need to relocate your loved one to an off-site mortuary, for example because a funeral director is unable to collect them. We will keep you fully informed of any movement plans.
Registering the death (Good Hope, Heartlands and Queen Elizabeth hospitals)
A medical certificate of cause of death is required before the death can be registered. Once the certificate is ready, we will send a copy direct to Birmingham Register Office. We will notify you when this is ready and you will then need to complete a "pre-registration of death" form, which you can complete on the Birmingham City Council website.
We will provide the Register Office with your contact name, telephone number and email address. If you do not have access to the internet, your funeral director or a friend can complete the form on your behalf, giving your details.
Registering the death (Solihull Hospital)
A medical certificate of cause of death is required before the death can be registered. Once the certificate is ready, we will send a copy direct to Solihull Register Office.
We will notify you when this is ready and you will then need to contact Solihull Register Office to arrange to register the death by telephoning 0121 704 8002.
Last reviewed: 09 August 2023