Communication with family after patient dies

It is important not to underestimate the importance of good communication after death.

• If this occurs out of hours and the patient’s own team is not available, the on-call team and nursing staff should speak to the family, express sympathy, answer any immediate questions the family may have and explain the processes for obtaining the death certificate and making funeral arrangements. If the Procurator Fiscal (Scotland) or Coroner (England) or equivalent needs to be informed about the death, ensure the family are aware. This requires local knowledge of criteria for referral.
• The death certificate should be given to the family by a senior member of the patient’s own team (ideally the consultant), explaining what is written on it and giving the family time to ask questions.
• The meeting should not be rushed, and should be held in a quiet room.
• Families often remember the detail about how this interaction went. If it is done well, this is very helpful to families.

Consider whether to communicate a few weeks later e.g. a phone call or bereavement card 6 weeks later with an invitation to speak to family again.

• Some services do this routinely.
• Families who take up the offer of another meeting often find it helpful to clarify aspects of the patient’s care, particularly if the patient died quickly and there was little time for discussion with staff.
• Families who have unresolved concerns about care provided (but for whatever reason had been unable to raise this before) may take up this opportunity if invited. If this is not offered they may feel that the only way to address their concerns is through the formal complaints system.

Page last reviewed: 16 Jan 2023