Post death procedure - East Cheshire NHS Trust

SECTION SIX – RELEASE OF BODIES6.1 RELEASE OF BODIES OUT OF HOURSSuch requests will only be considered in exceptional circumstances in order to comply withspecific religious customs where the body is required urgently. These customs DO NOToverride English Law and so the Hospital Manager must be certain that the following appliesBEFORE giving permission to release:DEATH IN THE HOSPITAL1. That the death is not required to be reported to the Coroner. If there is any doubt, theCoroner MUST be contacted. Tele: 01925 442478/442479, 07730 075820 or SeniorCoroner’s Officer - 01925 442471 and a release note from the Coroner issued beforerelease of body. The Coroner’s office is open 7.30 am – 3.00 pm weekdays. Thecoroner can be contacted 24 hours a day for urgent advice.2. All documentation relating to the death must be available and SIGNED.These include:a. Death Certificate *b. Hospital Release note *c. Cremation forms (signed by two doctors) if applicable *d. Mortuary Register* a, b & c are available by arrangement with General OfficePlease contact Switchboard (ext 1999) who will advise out of hours contact telephonenumbers for the General Office staff in order to complete the above paperwork.3. If all the required documentation is available and the Manager is prepared to releasethe body, the Mortuary Technician on-call MUST be contacted (via switchboard) andrequested to attend and supervise the release of body once a Funeral Director hasbeen contacted and an estimated time of arrival agreed.4. The body MUST be transferred to the Mortuary prior to release so that theappropriate official records can be completed and signed.5. On NO ACCOUNT should any release be undertaken by hospital portering staff.6.2 GUIDELINES FOR DEATHS IN THE ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTAfter discussion with Her Majesty's Coroner for Cheshire, it has been agreed that in caseswhere:1. The cause of the death is natural and known: either a doctor in the A & E or thepatient's GP can issue a medical certificate of death. It is not necessary for the police orcoroner's officer to be called to attend. For example where a patient arrives at the A & Edept with chest pain, is diagnosed as having had a Myocardial Infarction and who diesshortly afterwards.In all such cases, the medical notes, a copy of the A & E notes and the Notification ofDeath should be sent as soon as possible to the General Office, via the Porters only,NOT in the internal mail system for the Coroners Officer to deal with the following day at19/34