Funeral Arrangements

At Surman & Horwood Funeral Services we offer a caring and respectful service for funeral arrangements. We will take care of all the practical arrangements during this difficult time. You can make an appointment with us by calling now on 01844 351323.

The first thing to do when someone dies depends on the circumstances of their death.

Call their GP practice and nearest relative (if that’s not you). First, a doctor or nurse will come to verify the death. Then, when you feel ready to do so, you can contact us at Surman & Horwood, and we can collect the deceased and bring them to our private chapel of rest in Crowell, Chinnor.

A doctor then completes their part of a medical certificate which states the cause of death. This is then sent to a medical examiner (a senior doctor) who reviews it. The medical examiner or one of their team will then speak to the nearest relative to check they understand and agree with the medical certificate. You can ask the medical examiner questions and raise any concerns you have about the death at this stage. You’ll also be given a formal notice stating that the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) has been signed. You will then be able to make an appointment to register the death.

Call 999 immediately and explain what’s happened. If the cause of death is unclear or unnatural, for example as the result of an accident, or the person hadn’t been seen by a doctor during their last illness, the death will need to be reported to a coroner. A coroner is a lawyer with the legal duty to investigate unexpected deaths (some coroners are also doctors). The coroner may call for a post mortem examination to determine the cause of death. This may take some time, so the funeral may need to be delayed. You cannot refuse the examination, but you can tell them if you need to arrange the funeral quickly for faith reasons.

When someone dies unexpectedly, the police will also be called to do a routine visit. They’ll ask questions about the circumstances of the death which may be used to help the coroner to understand the cause of death. This can be unsettling but it’s important to remember that it’s normal
procedure in these circumstances. If the death needs to be referred to the coroner, the Coroner’s Service will notify the family when the death can be registered.

The hospital will explain the steps you need to take. After the death has been verified by a first doctor or nurse, the cause of death will then usually be checked by the medical examiner, who will then issue an MCCD and formal notice will be issued directly to the registrar.

The body will be kept in the hospital mortuary until the death has been registered, the named next of kin will need to complete an Authorisation for Release of a Deceased Patient Form. This form must be taken to the hospital by the Funeral Director, in order for the body to be released into their care. If an MCCD can’t be issued, the hospital will refer the death to the coroner.

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