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.
St Joseph’s Hospice · Hackney
When someone dies at St Joseph’s Hospice
If someone close to you has died at St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney, the hospice team will guide you through the immediate steps. This guide explains the Medical Examiner process, registering the death, 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 planned the funeral before speaking to a funeral director. You can make contact while the medical and registration processes are taking place and take the decisions about the funeral afterwards.
You are free to choose whichever funeral director you want. You may want to speak to more than one, ask for written estimates or simply decide who you feel comfortable dealing with.
Once you have chosen a funeral director, they can liaise directly with St Joseph’s and arrange the transfer when the hospice is ready.
St Joseph’s has a 24-hour First Contact service
If you need advice or support from St Joseph’s, its First Contact team is available 24 hours a day on 0300 303 0400. For questions about what is happening at the hospice, the clinical team remains the best place to start.
After a death at St Joseph’s
What happens next?
The hospice, Medical Examiner and Hackney Registration Service each have a different role. You can choose and speak to a funeral director while these formalities are taking place.
The medical paperwork is prepared
The hospice clinical team deals with the medical cause-of-death process. If the death needs to be referred to the coroner, the team will explain what happens next.
The Medical Examiner reviews the death
Unless the death is being investigated by the coroner, an independent Medical Examiner reviews the proposed cause of death and gives the person acting as next of kin an opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns. Community deaths in Hackney are covered by Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Your funeral director liaises with the hospice
You can choose a funeral director before registration is complete. Once appointed, the funeral director can contact St Joseph’s directly and arrange the transfer when the hospice confirms it is ready.
The death is registered in Hackney
Once the Medical Examiner or coroner has sent the necessary paperwork to Hackney Registration Service, you can arrange an appointment to register the death. Hackney requires the registration to take place in person.
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
St Joseph’s is normally the best place to start. The Homerton Medical Examiner Office and Hackney Registration Service are useful if you have been asked to contact them directly.
St Joseph’s Hospice
Mare Street, Hackney, London E8 4SA.
First Contact is available 24 hours a day on 0300 303 0400 .
Medical Examiner Office
huh-tr.medicalexaminer@nhs.net
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides the Medical Examiner service for community deaths in Hackney.
Hackney Registration Service
Hackney Service Centre, 1 Hillman Street, London E8 1DY.
Registration
Registering a death after someone dies at St Joseph’s
St Joseph’s Hospice is in Hackney, so a death there is registered with Hackney Registration Service, regardless of where the person who died normally lived.
The Medical Examiner or coroner sends the necessary paperwork directly to Hackney. You do not need to collect the medical paperwork yourself.
Hackney says the death should be registered within five days of the Medical Examiner or coroner notifying you that the paperwork has been sent. Registration is in person and by appointment.
Once the death is registered, Hackney can send the green certificate for burial or cremation directly to the funeral director, crematorium or cemetery.
Registering a death in Hackney
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 St Joseph’s team. They can tell you what is possible at the time and explain the practical arrangements that need to happen next.
If there are religious, cultural or personal requirements around what should happen after death, let the hospice 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 St Joseph’s: 020 8525 6000
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 St Joseph’s.
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 St Joseph’s 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 St Joseph’s Hospice
Poetic Endings is an independent funeral director based in Forest Hill. We arrange funerals throughout London, including Hackney and East London.
When St Joseph’s is ready for the transfer to take place, we can liaise directly with the hospice 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
St Joseph’s offers extensive bereavement support
St Joseph’s provides bereavement counselling and other support for adults, children and young people, as well as opportunities for people who are bereaved to meet and talk with others.
Bereavement counselling
St Joseph’s offers one-to-one bereavement counselling and support. Its City and Hackney service can also support eligible local people even when the person who died was not cared for by St Joseph’s.
Explore bereavement supportChildren, young people and family support
The hospice provides bereavement support for children and young people and can also work with couples and families who want help talking together about their grief.
First Contact: 0300 303 0400Groups and social support
Bereavement groups give people an opportunity to meet others who may have had similar experiences. St Joseph’s also runs informal social opportunities for people who feel isolated after a death.
Contact the bereavement service
Planning the funeral
Where could the funeral take place?
The funeral does not need to take place near St Joseph’s. You can choose a crematorium, cemetery, church, natural burial ground or another suitable venue anywhere in London or beyond.
City of London Crematorium
The City of London Cemetery and Crematorium in Manor Park is one of the major crematoria serving East London, set within extensive parkland and cemetery grounds.
Find City of London in our crematoria guideManor Park Crematorium
Manor Park Cemetery and Crematorium is another East London option, close to Wanstead Flats and easily reached from Hackney.
Compare East London crematoriaSomething different
A funeral ceremony can also take place in a church, natural burial ground, hall, gallery or another suitable setting before burial or cremation elsewhere.
Explore funeral venues
Practical questions
After a death at St Joseph’s 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 St Joseph’s Hospice?
The hospice team manages the immediate clinical arrangements and medical cause-of-death process. An independent Medical Examiner reviews the death unless it needs to be referred to the coroner. You can choose a funeral director while this is happening, and they can liaise directly with St Joseph’s about the transfer.
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 St Joseph’s 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 take care of 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 with St Joseph’s and explain what can happen while the Medical Examiner and registration processes continue.
Which Medical Examiner service covers St Joseph’s Hospice?
St Joseph’s is in the London Borough of Hackney. Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides the Medical Examiner service for community deaths in Hackney. The current Medical Examiner Office number is 020 8510 7150.
Where do I register a death after someone dies at St Joseph’s?
The death is registered with Hackney Registration Service. Registration takes place in person by appointment at the Hackney Service Centre, 1 Hillman Street, London E8 1DY. The current registration service number is 020 8356 3355.
How quickly does the death need to be registered?
Hackney says you should register the death within five days of the Medical Examiner or coroner notifying you that the necessary paperwork has been sent to the Registration Service.
What if the death is referred to the coroner?
Deaths in Hackney that require a coroner are dealt with by Poplar Coroner’s Court. The coroner may investigate the cause of death and, where necessary, arrange a post-mortem or inquest. The hospice or Medical Examiner team will explain if a referral has been made.
What if we need an urgent burial for religious reasons?
Hackney operates an out-of-hours registration service for urgent funerals where burial needs to take place very soon after death. The service is available during limited hours at weekends and on bank holidays, subject to the required medical paperwork being available. Contact Hackney Registration Service on 020 8356 3355 if this applies.
Can I spend time with the person who has died?
Ask the St Joseph’s team. They can explain what is possible at the time 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 St Joseph’s Hospice?
Yes. When St Joseph’s is ready for the transfer, we can liaise directly with the hospice and arrange to bring the person who has died into our care at our Forest Hill funeral home.
Does St Joseph’s offer bereavement support?
Yes. St Joseph’s offers bereavement counselling, family support, support for children and young people, bereavement groups and informal social support. Its First Contact team can be reached on 0300 303 0400.
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 funerals after deaths in London hospitals, hospices and at home. 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 St Joseph’s 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 St Joseph’s Hospice, NHS England and Hackney Council guidance. Poetic Endings is independent of St Joseph’s Hospice. For questions about hospice care or St Joseph’s own arrangements, call the hospice on 020 8525 6000 or its 24-hour First Contact service on 0300 303 0400.