When a Death Occurs...What do I do?

When someone passes away, you can contact us immediately, day or night on (07) 3812 4000 and we will arrange to transfer the deceased into our care. Also at this time we will organise an appropriate time to make the necessary funeral arrangements. This can be done at your home, in our office, or another private location.

There are five main locations where a death may occur:

• In the Home
• In a Nursing Home / Aged Care facility
• In a Hospital
• Interstate or overseas
• Deceased transferred to the Coroner
  

Depending on the place of death, there are different procedures you should take. These are outlined below for when the death occurs:

In the Home

Before contacting us, you should contact a Doctor who will confirm the death and issue a death certificate.

In a Nursing Home / Aged Care facility

The nursing home will contact the doctor to confirm the death and issue a death certificate. Alternatively if the doctor is unavailable the nurse on duty will issue a ‘life extinct certificate’. Once this has been done, you should contact us immediately so that we can transfer the deceased into our care.

In a Hospital

Contact our staff immediately and we will contact the hospital and organise to transfer into our care.

Interstate or overseas

Contact our staff immediately and we will liaise with the appropriate authorities and organise the transfer of the deceased into our care.

Deceased transferred to the Coroner

A death is reported to the Coroner for investigation when:

• The deat was violent or unnatural, such as accidents, falls, suicides or drug overdoeses
• The death happened in suspicious circumstances
• A 'cause of death' certificate has not beed issued and is not likely to be issued
• The death was a health care related death
• The death occured in custody or as a result of police operations

For more information about the Queensland State Coroner, please click here.

What will happen to my loved one?

Our staff are trained professionals who are respectful and dignified always whilst performing any part of the transfer and preparation of the deceased. To find out more about being ‘In Our Care’ please feel free to download our brochure.