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About this service
For patients who have passed away in hospital, we have a dedicated team, who are able to advise families of the next steps involved following a bereavement.
How can the bereavement team help?
The staff can offer practical advice on making funeral arrangements and liaise with other stakeholder that may be assisting you with arrangements, such as funeral directors or the registration service. They can also arrange an appointment for you to view your loved one.
What happens when a patient dies in hospital?
A member of the bereavement services team will contact you by phone the next working day after the patient’s death to advise you of the steps involved and information required, to release the deceased into the care of your appointed funeral director.
Organ donation
Organ donation is the process by which a person can give their organs after their death to help others. We only discuss organ donation with families when all other treatment options have been explored and the decision has been made to withdraw life-sustaining treatment.
Find out more about organ donation and how it can help.
If your relative had expressed a wish to donate organs or tissues to help others after their death, or if it is the wish of the next of kin, please ask the doctors or nursing staff to contact the on-call Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation via the hospital switchboard (01872 250000).
Contact information
- Telephone: 01872 252713 (08:30am to 4pm Monday to Friday)
Where to find us
We have locations at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, and the West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance.
Royal Cornwall Hospital
The Bereavement Office is located halfway along the Link Corridor, just past main Link Corridor entrance on route to the Tower Block.
West Cornwall Hospital
The Bereavement and General Office at West Cornwall Hospital are combined. It is located behind the reception desk at the hospital’s main entrance.
Page last reviewed: 9 May 2023
