The death is verified
A suitably trained healthcare professional confirms that the person has died. Verification of death is separate from establishing and certifying the medical cause of death.
Princess Alice Hospice · Esher
When someone dies at Princess Alice Hospice
If someone close to you has died at Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, the hospice team will guide you through the immediate steps. This guide explains the Medical Examiner process, registering the death in Surrey, choosing a funeral director and the support available afterwards.
You can speak to a funeral director before you know what kind of funeral you want. If you would like to ask Poetic Endings a question or appoint us, you can contact us at any stage.
The first thing to know
You can choose a funeral director before deciding on the funeral
You do not need to have decided what kind of funeral you want before contacting a funeral director. You can make contact while the Medical Examiner and registration processes are taking place and talk through the funeral itself afterwards.
You are free to choose whichever funeral director you want. You may want to speak to more than one, compare written estimates or simply decide who you feel comfortable dealing with.
Once you have appointed a funeral director, they can liaise directly with Princess Alice Hospice and arrange the transfer when the hospice is ready.
Princess Alice has its own guidance for what happens after a death
If someone dies on the In-Patient Unit, a hospice doctor contacts the Medical Examiner’s Office. The Medical Examiner reviews the death and will normally speak to the person acting as next of kin before the registration paperwork is sent to Surrey Registration Service.
After a death at Princess Alice
What happens next?
Princess Alice Hospice, the Medical Examiner and Surrey Registration Service each have a different role. You can choose and speak to a funeral director while these formalities are taking place.
A hospice doctor contacts the Medical Examiner
Princess Alice’s own guidance says that when someone dies on its In-Patient Unit, a hospice doctor contacts the Medical Examiner’s Office so the medical cause-of-death process can begin.
The Medical Examiner reviews the death
Unless the death needs to be investigated by the coroner, an independent Medical Examiner reviews the proposed cause of death. They will normally contact the person acting as next of kin to discuss the cause of death, answer questions and explain what happens next.
Your funeral director liaises with the hospice
You can choose a funeral director before registration is complete. Once appointed, the funeral director can speak directly with Princess Alice Hospice and arrange the transfer when the hospice confirms it is ready.
Surrey Registration Service receives the paperwork
Once the Medical Examiner process is complete, the necessary paperwork is sent electronically to Surrey Registration Service. Princess Alice’s guidance says the Register Office will then invite you to register the death within five days.
You can continue planning the funeral
The funeral arrangements can develop alongside the medical and registration process. You can begin talking about cremation or burial, the ceremony, venue, coffin, transport and other choices without waiting for every administrative step to be complete.
Useful contacts
Who you may need to contact
Princess Alice Hospice is normally the best place to start. The Medical Examiner Office and Surrey Registration Service are useful if you have been asked to contact them directly.
Princess Alice Hospice
West End Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 8NA.
For patient queries and clinical support: 0300 10 20 100 .
Medical Examiner Office
asp-tr.medicalexaminers@nhs.net
Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides the community Medical Examiner service for this part of Elmbridge.
Surrey Registration Service
contact.centre@surreycc.gov.uk
Registration takes place in person by appointment at a Surrey Register Office.
Registration
Registering a death after someone dies at Princess Alice Hospice
Princess Alice Hospice is in Surrey, so a death on the In-Patient Unit is registered through Surrey Registration Service.
You do not need to collect the medical certificate yourself. The hospice doctor contacts the Medical Examiner and the completed paperwork is sent electronically to the Register Office.
Princess Alice’s current guidance says that once Surrey Registration Service receives the necessary paperwork, you will be invited to register the death within five days.
Registration is in person by appointment. Princess Alice lists Camberley, Guildford, Leatherhead, Reigate, Weybridge and Staines as Surrey offices where a death can be registered.
Registering a death in Surrey
At the hospice
Can I spend time with the person after they have died?
If you would like some time with the person who has died, speak to the Princess Alice team. They can explain what is possible and what practical arrangements need to happen next.
If there are religious, cultural or personal requirements around what should happen after death, let the hospice team know as early as possible.
You can also arrange a private visit later once the person is in the care of your funeral director. At Poetic Endings, visits take place at our Forest Hill funeral home by appointment.
Call Princess Alice Hospice: 01372 468811
Your choice
You can choose your own funeral director
You are free to choose whichever funeral director you want. You do not have to use a particular company because someone has died at Princess Alice Hospice.
You may want to speak to more than one funeral director, compare estimates or simply decide who you feel most comfortable dealing with. Asking for information does not commit you to using someone.
You also do not need to know what kind of funeral you want yet. The detailed funeral arrangements can be discussed afterwards.
Ask what the estimate includes
A funeral director should explain their own fee as well as any crematorium, cemetery, church or other third-party charges.
Ask where the person will be cared for
You can ask where the funeral director’s mortuary is, who will look after the person who has died and whether private visits can be arranged.
Ask what happens next
Once appointed, a funeral director can liaise with Princess Alice Hospice about the transfer and explain what can be arranged while the Medical Examiner and registration processes continue.
If you choose Poetic Endings
We can arrange the transfer from Princess Alice Hospice
Poetic Endings is an independent funeral director based in Forest Hill. We arrange funerals throughout London and can also help when someone has died at Princess Alice Hospice in Esher.
When Princess Alice Hospice is ready for the transfer to take place, we can liaise directly with the team and arrange to bring the person who has died into our care at our Forest Hill funeral home.
We will then explain the options and costs, prepare a clear estimate, coordinate the practical arrangements and be there on the day.
Support after someone dies
Princess Alice offers extensive bereavement support
The hospice offers one-to-one and group support, specialist help for children and young people, and community bereavement activities for people who would like to meet others who have experienced a death.
Bereavement support
The bereavement service offers one-to-one support as well as groups and other ways to talk about grief following the death of someone who was cared for by Princess Alice.
Explore bereavement supportChildren and young people
Princess Alice provides specialist support for bereaved children and young people. Its Dovetail group gives children, teenagers and parents or carers an opportunity to meet others and take part in age-appropriate activities.
Support for children & young peopleGroups and community support
The hospice runs bereavement cafés, Walk & Talks and other groups. Some community sessions are open to anyone who is bereaved, whether or not the person who died was cared for by Princess Alice.
Explore groups & services
Planning the funeral
Where could the funeral take place?
The funeral does not need to take place close to Princess Alice Hospice. You can choose a crematorium, cemetery, church, natural burial ground or another suitable venue in London, Surrey or somewhere else altogether.
Kingston Crematorium
Kingston Cemetery and Crematorium is at Bonner Hill Road and is one of the London crematoria within relatively easy reach of Esher.
Compare London crematoriaRandalls Park Crematorium
Randalls Park in Leatherhead is a nearby Surrey crematorium and cemetery, with both cremation and burial available on the same site.
Randalls Park informationSomething different
A funeral ceremony can also take place in a church, natural burial ground, hall, gallery or another suitable setting before burial or cremation somewhere else.
Explore funeral venues
Practical questions
After a death at Princess Alice Hospice
You are welcome to call us with a question even if you have not decided whether you would like Poetic Endings to arrange the funeral.
What happens when someone dies at Princess Alice Hospice?
A hospice doctor contacts the Medical Examiner’s Office. The Medical Examiner reviews the proposed cause of death and normally speaks to the person acting as next of kin before the necessary paperwork is sent to Surrey Registration Service. You can choose a funeral director while this process is taking place.
Can I choose any funeral director?
Yes. You are free to choose whichever funeral director you want. You do not have to use a particular company because someone has died at Princess Alice Hospice.
Do I have to use a funeral director?
No. There is no legal requirement to appoint a funeral director. It is possible to arrange a funeral yourself, although most people choose a funeral director to care for the person who has died and coordinate the practical arrangements.
Can I choose a funeral director before the death is registered?
Yes. You can speak to and appoint a funeral director before registration is complete. Your funeral director can then liaise directly with Princess Alice Hospice about the transfer and explain what can happen while the formal paperwork continues.
Which Medical Examiner service covers Princess Alice Hospice?
Princess Alice Hospice is in Elmbridge, Surrey. The community Medical Examiner service for this area is provided by Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The current community Medical Examiner number is 01932 726588.
Where do I register a death after someone dies at Princess Alice Hospice?
The death is registered through Surrey Registration Service. Princess Alice’s current guidance says deaths in its In-Patient Unit can be registered in person at Surrey Register Offices including Camberley, Guildford, Leatherhead, Reigate, Weybridge and Staines. The current Surrey contact number is 0300 200 1002.
How quickly does the death need to be registered?
Princess Alice Hospice says that once the Register Office has received the necessary paperwork following the Medical Examiner review, you will be invited to register the death within five days.
What if the death is referred to the coroner?
If the death needs to be investigated by the coroner, you will need to wait until the coroner tells you that registration can go ahead. The coroner’s office will explain the next steps and let you know when you can make an appointment.
Can I spend time with the person who has died?
Speak to the Princess Alice team. They can explain what is possible and what practical arrangements need to take place. If you would like a private visit later, this can also be arranged once the person is in the care of your funeral director.
Can Poetic Endings collect someone from Princess Alice Hospice?
Yes. When Princess Alice Hospice is ready for the transfer, we can liaise directly with the team and arrange to bring the person who has died into our care at our Forest Hill funeral home.
Does Princess Alice offer bereavement support?
Yes. The hospice offers one-to-one and group bereavement support, specialist support for children and young people, bereavement cafés, Walk & Talks and other community services.
Can we call Poetic Endings outside office hours?
Yes. Our telephone line is answered 24 hours a day. Outside normal office hours, our on-call team can help with an urgent transfer where this is possible, or take a message for our funeral directors to respond to during office hours.
About this guide
Prepared by Louise Winter
Louise is the founder and a funeral director at Poetic Endings, based in Forest Hill. She has practical experience arranging transfers and funerals after deaths at Princess Alice Hospice, as well as at hospitals, hospices and homes across London. A former editor of the Good Funeral Guide, she co-founded Life. Death. Whatever. and co-wrote We All Know How This Ends, published by Bloomsbury.
Poetic Endings · Forest Hill
Would you like to talk to us?
If someone is being cared for at Princess Alice Hospice, or has died there, you can call with a practical question, appoint Poetic Endings or start talking about the funeral. You do not need to have everything decided first.
Information checked 7 November 2026 against Princess Alice Hospice, NHS England, Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Surrey registration guidance. Poetic Endings is independent of Princess Alice Hospice. For questions about hospice care or its own arrangements, contact Princess Alice Hospice on 01372 468811.