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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has anyone struggled getting a Death Certificate from GP

49 replies

FiveShelties · 17/05/2023 18:48

Not really AIBU but looking for help please.

My Mum died on Sunday morning after being on 'End of Life Care' for three days. The GP surgery told me on Monday that there was no-one available to issue Death Certificate but would be done Tuesday. Tuesday I was told that GP is on holiday and back on Thursday and they would try to get document issued Wednesday. Wednesday I am told it will not be done until Thursday morning. There are five GPs at the surgery.

I live in NZ and have a flight booked home, funeral booked for next Tuesday which has now had to be cancelled and moved to next Friday. I cannot do anything without the certificate but the GP surgery do not seem to care one bit. I understand I have only 5 days to register a death and worried that I may breach that.

All advice very gratefully received.

OP posts:
lionsleepstonight · 17/05/2023 18:51

Firstly, you have 5 days once the death certificate is issued. So the clock hasn't started yet.

Secondly, they do take their time. I think we waited 8 days.

It is frustrating as there are lots of things to 'do'.

Sorry for your loss x

Original poster
FiveShelties · 17/05/2023 18:53

Everyone I have spoken to has said they got the certificate the day or death or the day after.

OP posts:
Feetupteashot · 17/05/2023 18:54

Unfortunately there are rules about who is allowed to issue the certificate

Original poster
FiveShelties · 17/05/2023 18:56

Feetupteashot · 17/05/2023 18:54

Unfortunately there are rules about who is allowed to issue the certificate

Yes I can understand that, but surely there must be more than one GP at a Practise that can issue it - would would happen if she was away for a month?

OP posts:
amarante · 17/05/2023 18:59

It should be the GP that last saw the patient. If not available- then another who may have seen the patient in the last month.

Nitgel · 17/05/2023 19:01

Took ages for my parent. Was a horrific experience, did a GP see her before she died? otherwise they will have to visit her to give the cert.

SiblingFights · 17/05/2023 19:03

We didn't get a death certificate for over a week. You can't book an appointment to register the death without a cert IIRC.

I'm so sorry you are having all this additional stress on top of your loss Flowers

Original poster
FiveShelties · 17/05/2023 19:06

SiblingFights · 17/05/2023 19:03

We didn't get a death certificate for over a week. You can't book an appointment to register the death without a cert IIRC.

I'm so sorry you are having all this additional stress on top of your loss Flowers

Thank you - I did try to book an appointment but could not without the certificate. I cannot believe how difficult they are making this - my Mum was 92 and on 'end of life care' when she died. I just want to sort out the funeral and go home - I have no family in UK

OP posts:
Timetoswitch · 17/05/2023 19:14

My dad died on Thursday, his is currently stuck with the coroner (but still meant to just be a formality I hope), cannot yet make an appointment to register the death x

Bluemuf · 17/05/2023 19:17

Have you made an appointment to register the death? That's the next hurdle. I missed the 5 day deadline because I couldn't get an appointment with a registrar. It didn't seem to matter that the deadline was missed, but in your circumstances it might be worth making an appointment in the hope you'll have the certificate in time to avoid further delay.

Bluemuf · 17/05/2023 19:17

Oh do you need the certificate to make an appointment? Sorry

Original poster
FiveShelties · 17/05/2023 19:18

@Timetoswitch sorry you are in the same position. It is so frustrating.

I am trying to sort everything out on my own and finding it difficult to have patience!

OP posts:
Dishwashersaurous · 17/05/2023 19:26

So sorry for you loss.

It frequently can take over a week.

I'm surprised that you managed to book a funeral so quickly as well, as they can take weeks until there is a slot.

I'm afraid that it's just not a process where speed is considered very important.

Nitgel · 17/05/2023 19:41

i booked a slot online to register the death and the cert came in a couple of days before. there was a wait list of over a week just to book online.#

Noodledoodledoo · 17/05/2023 19:50

I am surprised you have a funeral date, I have always, sadly arranged 5 recently, needed the death certificate before they will do anything.

Sadly these things take time, I feel for you as it is all frustrating as things seem to move at the speed of a snail.

chrisrobin · 17/05/2023 19:56

We had similar when my DM passed away in March, the GP surgery kept saying that it would be sorted soon and they would ring when it was done so we could pick up the paperwork. In the end the funeral director rang Surgery and then the Registrar who said they had had the paperwork sent directly to them (GP didn't tell us they'd sent it) and we could go in to register the death. Would your Funeral Director ring up on your behalf? They seemed to have more 'clout' than we did as family.

Original poster
FiveShelties · 17/05/2023 19:58

I had no problem booking the funeral date and the funeral directors are amazed at how slow the GPs are being.

@Nitgel I cannot book a slot until the certificate is issued, so have no idea if there is a delay there.

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 17/05/2023 20:05

Sorry to hear that op. One of my close friends had difficulties with getting the GP to issue a death certificate when her mum passed away last year.

Drs we're funny about doing it as they hadn't seen her. But 3 guesses why not? Yes they'd refused a house call when she was dying and wanted us to find a way of bringing a bed bound dying woman to the GP surgery so they didn't have to put themselves out!

TheBroadintheDaylight · 17/05/2023 20:09

Hi OP. Just wanted to clarify a few things for you as someone that works in this sector.

Please ignore the must register within 5 days advice that’s put out there. It’s a target given to councils by the government and is totally unachievable as it includes weekends in those 5 days. There is no penalty for registering outside the 5 days.

The Medical Cause of Death Certificate that needs to be issued by the GP has to be completed by a clinician that has seen your Mum alive in the last 28 days. Unfortunately, it can’t just be any GP at the practice. This is where things get complicated and things get held up and why it isn’t unusual at all to wait around a week for a certificate to be issued.

I am very surprised a funeral director has booked you a funeral date without a death certificate. I’ve encountered this a number of times unfortunately but it really shouldn’t be happening, it isn’t best practice and really doesn’t help with guiding families through the process.

I’m so sorry for your loss. In my experience this is such an awful part of the process and I’m sorry you have to do it. I know how frustrating it is and how easy it is for patience to wear thin at this point. Look after yourself and I hope you are able to get home soon

Creamcakeandrhinos · 17/05/2023 20:12

when my mam died the GP would not issue a death certificate so the Registrar rang us to say that they would issue an interim certificate but we would have to have an inquest so that the reason for death could be explored. The reason she died was that she was 90 years old and died of frailty. We used the interim certificate to organise the funeral and all the utility providers accepted the interim certificate

Throwncrumbs · 17/05/2023 20:13

Funeral directors will not do a funeral until they have seen the death certificate otherwise they would be burying/cremating people who are not officially dead. Surely a doctor attended to certify the death, they should be the one doing the certificate.

Creamcakeandrhinos · 17/05/2023 20:15

Funeral directors will accept an interim death certificate from the Registrar

Original poster
FiveShelties · 17/05/2023 20:21

Thank you everyone, I am very grateful for your responses.

I appreciate the Funeral Directors need the certificate, that is why I am so eager to have it issued. Sounds ridiculous but I feel so lonely here and just want to organise and have the funeral and go home.

I will see what happens tomorrow and then look at obtaining an interim certificate.

My Mum was 92 and on an 'End of Life' plan so it was obviously not a surprise that she died.

OP posts:
DrFoxtrot · 17/05/2023 20:24

Other GPs at the practice can complete the certificate but there is the extra step of informing/ discussing with the Coroners office if that GP has not seen the person within the last 28 days. If the delay is only a few days, it is much more straightforward to wait for the right GP to do it. Flowers

TheBroadintheDaylight · 17/05/2023 20:25

Totally understand. It’s so so hard this limbo part. Talking from personal experience too.

Just something to bear in mind, an interim certificate must go through the Coroner of your local area and a paper inquest must be completed first. This often delays things further unfortunately. It only really speeds things up if you are waiting for post mortem results or a full inquest needs to be heard.