Being told that you or your loved one is dying either after a long illness or unexpectedly can be a difficult time. When patients or their loved ones are told that they are in the last days to weeks of life the focus of their care will change and comfort will be the priority. You may notice that the ward staff stop doing routine observations (taking blood pressure, pulse and temperature), but instead regularly monitor the patient for symptoms such as pain or nausea. The ward team of doctors and nurses are available to give you information and support during this time.  If you have any questions or concerns please talk to a member of staff caring for your loved one. Information about the changes that occur in the final stages of a person's life and how we care for them can be found in the hospital leaflet 'When a person is dying in hospital'. Please ask the ward team if you have not been offered one of these leaflets, alternatively you can download one here.

At this time, those closest to the dying person may wish to stay at the bedside for extended periods. Please talk to the ward team about visiting out of hours, access to the hospital at night and parking. Some people may also wish to stay overnight, the ward have access to sleeper chairs to accommodate overnight stays.

The Trust provides comfort boxes for those who have an extended stay at the hospital. These contain a small amount of snacks, tea and coffee making supplies and toiletries, as well as information about other services around the Trust. Please ask a member of staff if you have not been offered a comfort box. 

If you need to visit the hospital after 10pm then please note that access to the hospital is limited to the A&E department.

After someone has died close family and friends will have the opportunity to spend some time with the patient if they wish to do so. The ward staff will provide personal care for the deceased before the body is transferred to the hospital mortuary.

University Hospitals Bristol Main Site

Following a death, the ward staff will ask you to make contact with the Patient Affairs office on 0117 342 9048/9049 after 10am. The office is open until 4pm every weekday. The team will be able to give you further information and assistance regarding the practical arrangements that will have to be undertaken in the days that follow a death. You will be offered a booklet called 'Following a Bereavement' by either the ward staff or the Patient Affairs office that contains further guidance. Alternatively, you can download the information here.

Some relatives wish to visit their loved one in the mortuary. Within office hours this can be arranged by contacting the Patient Affairs office. Out of hours please ring the hospital switchboard on 0117 923 0000 and ask to speak to a member of the mortuary team.  

St Michael's Hospital

If your relative has died at St Michael's Hospital, please call ward 78 on 0117 342 7789 to speak to a member of staff about collecting the death certificate or to obtain further information.

South Bristol Community Hospital

Patients that die at South Bristol Community Hospital are transferred directly from the ward to the funeral directors. To arrange to collect the death certificate from the hospital or for further information please call the Patient Affairs Officer after 12 midday on 0117 342 9836. (Office Hours; Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm). If you are ringing outside these hours please call the hospital switchboard on 0117 964 3300 and ask to be put into contact with the senior nurse for the hospital on bleep 2109.  

Thousands of lives are saved every year thanks to tissue and organ donors. Signing up to the NHS Organ Donation Register only takes a few minutes, and could help transform the life of someone waiting for a transplant.

Advances in medical science mean that more people each year are able to benefit from donated tissue, including corneas and bone.    

UH Bristol is one of ten official Tissue Donation Alliance sites. This means that all adult deaths are referred to NHS Blood and Transplant so the possibility of tissue donation can be explored. Referral does not mean automatic tissue retrieval.

The families of loved ones who pass away may be contacted by a specialist nurse from NHS Blood and Transplant shortly after the death. If they consent to the person becoming a tissue donor, retrieval will be carried out at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

It is important that you talk to your family so that they are aware of your wishes.   

More information about tissue and organ donation can be found here.