Since there is a time limit on how long a patient should remain in the heat of a ward (there could potentially be early onset of rigor mortis), nurses will have to exercise discretion over when to organize the transfer of the patient to the mortuary. This will vary according to family circumstances (there could be a delay in a relative travelling to the ward or area) and the ward situation (e.g. the availability of beds). As a general rule, 4 hours would be considered the upper limit for a patient to remain in the ward area once care after death has been completed (Wilson [166]).

Helping the family to understand procedures after death is the role of many people in hospital but primarily this will fall upon those who first meet with the family after their relative has died. Most hospitals and other healthcare settings will have developed local guidance around informing families and friends regarding the process that is followed after death. If the family suggest that they feel the death was unnatural or even that it was interfered with, professionals have a responsibility to explore these feelings and even outline the family's legal entitlement to request a post‐mortem.

Before taking the family and friends to see the patient, prepare them for what they might see. Then, proceed to:

Some families may wish for a memento of the patient, such as a lock of hair. Try to anticipate and accommodate these wishes as much as possible.

Local administrative processes following the death of a patient will vary and local policy and procedures should be followed. For patients who die in hospital, the next of kin to whom the medical certification of death has been given should then proceed to register the death. Once this is completed, they can proceed to make contact with an undertaker depending on the wishes of the patient in terms of burial or cremation. In some circumstances a family may wish for the body to be repatriated home. Most hospital trusts will offer written guidance on this with additional support services that may be available for bereavement support.

In the event of no next of kin being identified by the patient, healthcare staff should notify those identified in their local policy who will be responsible for registering the death at the Registry Office and liaising with the appropriate funeral directors to organize a contract funeral, if necessary. Contract funerals are organized by the local authority. Under Section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act ([121]), the council has a statutory obligation to carry out the funeral arrangements of a person who dies within the local area where there is no one else willing or able to deal with the funeral arrangements, for whatever reason.

End‐of‐life care has been described as challenging, complex and emotionally demanding but, if staff have the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes, it can be one of the most important and rewarding areas of care (Lacey [77]). Providing end‐of‐life care can expose staff to risks of emotional burnout and post‐traumatic stress (Lacey [77]). To prevent this, a supportive and nurturing environment for all those who provide end‐of‐life care is necessary. Pattison ([115]) agrees, stating that the practical and emotional support needed by staff cannot be overestimated. She advises that this can be provided by mentorship and clinical supervision as well as staff counselling but warns that consideration needs to be given to workload and skill mix to enable this to take place. This support should extend to doctors and all members of the multidisciplinary team because the emotional implications of dealing with end‐of‐life care affect all (Lacey [77]).

The palliative care team can be a useful resource in providing informal teaching and educational support for staff relating to end‐of‐life care issues. This is often achieved via joint patient care or meetings with family members. This experiential learning can be valuable, especially for junior team members, who may have more confidence to ask questions on a one‐to‐one basis.