Care After Death guidance

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to these guidelines on care after death. 

Our position remains that we only recommend nurses who are included on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register to undertake this role. We strongly believe that the wraparound care required at point of death, including the discontinuation and safe disposal of medication and care of the bereaved, requires this level of knowledge and skill.

We do, however, recognise that this is guidance and our expectation is that organisations will take this guidance and amend for their local policy, education and training needs.      

We continue to support and promote the inclusion of verification of death in the pre-registration training of Registered Nurses and Nursing Associates in line with the relevant competencies, and the continued uptake of this aspect of patient and family care by registered nurses already in clinical practice. 

We recommend that commissioners of education and services consider the importance of verification of expected death and care after death in ensuring compassionate care for those who have died and those who are bereaved.