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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Not AIBU but need advice on an expected death

49 replies

PumpkinPie2016 · 21/03/2020 21:12

Sorry for posting here but I need the traffic.

My elderly Nan is in the last few days of life

She is in her own home. Her GP saw her Fri eve and issed a do not rescusitate form and a notice of intent to issue a death certificate along with end of life medication (morphine etc.).

If she passes away when the GP isn't open, does anyone know who is best to call? Obviously, a doctor needs to certify the death but I was trying to get through to 111 earlier for something and simply couldn't.

I have the details of the district nurse and they have been out tonight to give morphine etc. I know they can't certify but will they be able to contact a doctor?

I know I should probably know all of this already but I am surviving on little sleep and my head is a mess.

All advice appreciated.

OP posts:

BalloonDinosaur · 21/03/2020 21:45

If you can't get hold of 111 or GP, call 999 (111 would most likely send your call through to 999 anyway)

The calltaker will ask you a few questions, if you explain she has a DNR, they will usually say something along the lines of 'are you sure we should not try to resuscitate her' say no, and they will send an ambulance or paramedic to certify death. You might also get a callback from a clinician first of all, but they will organise the right people (and police, if necessary)

It's a while since I took calls but I'm know they procedure hasn't changed massively, however, there may be different protocols in place given what's going on atm.

frumpety · 21/03/2020 21:45

If they are under the care of the District nurses and it is an expected death, ring them first. Please do not ring 999. So sorry you are going through this

DuckConfitNumberOne · 21/03/2020 21:49

Ring any local funeral director. They have 24/7 call-out staff on standby (a plain van marked ‘Private Ambulance’) and they’ll advise you.

MoreHairyThanScary · 21/03/2020 21:54

So sorry you are going through this.

I'm a community nurse, Different areas have different policies regarding verification of death in our area community nurses can verify expected death, best way to find out what happens in your area is to phone whatever number you have for the community nurses. You certainly don't need 999 and there will probably be a better number to contact other than 111( particularly atm).

I hope you find the answers you need

The2Ateam · 21/03/2020 22:04

When my mum died, she had been seen by the GP two days earlier. She had a DNR and when I rang 999 they said they wouldn’t come out but a paramedic did come! I called the funeral
Director and they asked me to confirm with the GP that they did not want to see mum - they said no - funeral director collected her. This was a week day. I found mum at 6am but she wasn’t taken away at my wishes until 12noon at my wishes. So the very long answe to your question - is call your nans GP.

takeyourmarks · 21/03/2020 22:15

So sorry for your situation we are currently in exactly the same position with my father. Told by GP yesterday and again by DN today that out of surgery hours we need to call 111 - not sure how feasible it Is given current situation but will at least start there as requested if that moment comes before Monday

Clockworkprincess · 21/03/2020 22:20

We were in same situation a few years back with my mum. She had a dnr and was on end of life medication, when it happened the district nurse was there as she had hung on suspecting it was going to be any time and she dealt with it for us. Speak to your district nurse asap and they will be able to guide you on what is the best thing to be done at the moment

frumpety · 21/03/2020 22:35

Can I just add if it is an expected death , you can ring the funeral directors and they can come even if the GP hasn't been , I think they have 72 hrs to sort out certifying, so if anything happens in the next day or so you can ring the funeral director and then contact the GP on Monday morning. Still ring the District nurses though if you have any concerns.

whiplashy · 21/03/2020 22:37

I don’t know the answer but sorry to hear this OP

Welshmaenad · 21/03/2020 23:10

My mum died at home, an expected death. It was 11pm on good Friday. We called the GP OOH service and a doctor arrived within 30 minutes to certify her death, we could then call the funeral director.

If you have contact info for district nursing services they could also help I believe.

Jimmers · 21/03/2020 23:28

So sorry you’re having to deal with this

Original poster

PumpkinPie2016 · 22/03/2020 06:34

Thank you all for your kind replies. Hanging I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandfather, I hope things go as well as they can on Friday.

From the advice here, if/when it happens I will call 111 or the district nurse as I have their number and they have been out to us in the last few days.

I have the funeral director number as well because we know who we are using. Doctor said we don't need to notify the police because he has issued a statement of intent.

Thanks again. It's a horrible time and I am struggling to think clearly.

OP posts:

orangejuicer · 22/03/2020 08:16

Do not call 999. Ring the nurse/out of hours service.

orangejuicer · 22/03/2020 08:16

Ah sorry, missed your update!

BeansOnToast4T · 22/03/2020 08:35

Gp or out of hours gp. I have had to do this recently for an expected death. The funeral director can be called but will not attend until the doctor has visited and issued the paperwork. I phoned to advised them and they were able to confirm all the details and prepare, they then asked me to call them as soon as doctor had been.

Original poster

PumpkinPie2016 · 22/03/2020 14:19

Thanks again.

The district nurse this morning gave me a more direct phone number for them to ring if/when.

They can then get through to on call doc/111 through a professional number to get a doctor. She confirmed no need to inform the police.

OP posts:

PerkingFaintly · 22/03/2020 14:29

Oh thank goodness. I'm so sorry you're all going through this.

for you and your family.

takeyourmarks · 22/03/2020 22:42

Really appreciate the unbelievable strains being Put on our health services but now approaching 7 hours waiting for our of hours to come and certify - it is so tough

IamHyouweegobshite · 22/03/2020 22:57

Hi op, when my dm died, she had the district nurse come in, middle of the night, she was the one who called the doc and funeral director. Take care.

PerkingFaintly · 22/03/2020 23:01

takeyourmarks, I'm so sorry.

HennyPenny4 · 04/04/2020 11:14

I was trying to find out info for Care Home documents recently and everywhere seemed busy to get through to - Council, Funeral Directors etc.
So I would suggest you phone your surgery or your nurse and ask for the procedure as you don't want to be wasting yours or anyone else's time at a distressing time.

HennyPenny4 · 04/04/2020 11:15

Oops see you have already answered the question.

RandomLondoner · 04/04/2020 11:36

The funeral director cannot take a body without the paperwork to certify the death

In this situation I just called funeral directors and they came and took body away without any paperwork, to the best of my recollection. A GP had been and gone about an hour after the death but I don't remember him leaving any paperwork with us. (Memory may be lacking, I suppose.)

The undertakers did obtain a death certificate from the GP a day or so later. And there was an odd moment the morning after when they wouldn't let DW see the body. I don't know if that related to them not knowing the circumstances of the death, as a day after that she was able to.

RandomLondoner · 04/04/2020 11:37

Sorry, didn't realise this was an old thread.

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