Mortuary, Bereavement and Medical Examiner’s Services

Location: Ground Floor, Peterborough City Hospital

Peterborough email: peh-tr.bcpch@nhs.net

Hinchingbrooke email: hch-tr.bereavement@nhs.net

Medical Examiner’s email: nwangliaft.medicalexaminer@nhs.net

Opening Hours

• Monday to Friday: 09:30 – 16:00
• Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays: Closed

 Bereavement Booklets

 Peterborough City Hospital Bereavement Booklet

Hinchingbrooke Hospital Bereavement Booklet   

Contacting the Team

The Mortuary and Bereavement team is here to support through the practical matters that follow the loss of a loved one. To make arrangements or ask questions, please contact the relevant Bereavement Team during our normal working hours.

Outside of these hours, please contact the hospital Duty Manager for guidance. Out-of-hours technical attendance is at the discretion of the on-call mortuary technician.

Medical Examiner's (ME) Service

As of September 2024, the Medical Examiner’s Service became a statutory requirement across England and Wales. All deaths not referred to the Coroner must be independently reviewed by a Medical Examiner, a senior doctor trained to:

• Review and confirm the clinical cause of death
• Discuss the cause of death with the bereaved and answer any questions
• Identify any clinical governance concerns
• Ensure the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is accurate and appropriate

At Peterborough City Hospital and Hinchingbrooke Hospital, the Medical Examiner's Office works in close coordination with the Bereavement Team to provide clarity and support to families throughout the certification process.

Viewing of the Deceased

Relatives who wish to view their loved one may book an appointment through the Bereavement Office. Please note:

• Viewings are subject to Coronial consent (where applicable)
• Viewings are limited to the Next of Kin or those they authorise
• Viewings must be arranged during normal working hours
• Exceptions outside these hours may be made at the discretion of the on-call mortuary technician

Releasing the Deceased (Including Out-of-Hours)

We recognise the importance of timely release of the deceased to support religious and cultural practices. However, all legal and Trust procedures must be followed to ensure a safe and lawful release.

The ability to facilitate an out-of-hours release depends on multiple factors, including:

• Availability of the on-call mortuary technician
• Completion of the Medical Examiner’s review, where applicable
• Involvement of the HM Coroner’s Office, if the death has been referred

Each case is individually assessed to ensure compliance with national legislation and Trust policy. Please do not make promises regarding release timings without confirmation, as this may cause additional distress.

Post-Mortems

Coroner’s Post-Mortems

When the cause of death cannot be confirmed or there are concerns about how the person died, the case must be referred to the HM Coroner (Mr David Heming) via his officers:

• Phone: 0345 045 1364
• Email: coroners@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

The Coroner may direct that a post-mortem be performed. In some cases, this will be carried out by a Home Office Pathologist.

Guidance for when to refer a death to the Coroner includes, but is not limited to:

• Unexplained, sudden, or suspicious deaths
• Deaths after medical procedures
• Deaths in custody or under the Mental Health Act
• Industrial disease or potential neglect
• Deaths without a clear cause or recent medical attendance

All referrals are now made by the ME team following discussion with a senior attending clinician.

Hospital Post-Mortems (Non-Coronial)

Where appropriate and with full consent, hospital (non-Coronial) post-mortems can be arranged to provide further medical understanding or support family decision-making. Consent must be obtained in accordance with the Human Tissue Act 2004 and the guidance from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA).

Consent may be provided by:

• Patient (Immediately before death)
• Spouse or partner (incl. civil or same sex)
• Parent or child (of any age)
• Brother or sister
• Grandparent or grandchild
• Niece or nephew
• Stepfather or stepmother
• Half-brother or half-sister
• Friend of longstanding

 A doctor from the clinical team dealing with the deceased must contact either Dr Ashraf Ibrahim, Consultant Histopathologist or the Mortuary& Bereavement team to request a hospital post mortem.
It is the clinical teams' responsibility to approach relatives consent, and if agreeable, an appointment must be made in the Bereavement Centre to further discuss and take consent.
In order to comply with the Human Tissue Act (2004) and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) Codes of Practice fully informed consent must be obtained prior to the examination commencing. HTA Consent is different from common law consent and it is imperative that the person obtaining consent must be trained in taking consent for post mortem examinations.
Only trained consent takers may lead these discussions. Families must be given at least 24 hours to reflect before the examination takes place, and consent may be withdrawn at any time.

To discuss a hospital post-mortem, contact:

• Dr Ashraf Ibrahim, Consultant Histopathologist and Medical Examiner, Associate Divisional Director of Pathology and Clinical Lead of Cellular Pathology (Secretary ext. 7809)
• PCH Mortuary Team: ext. 3540 / 3539
• PCH Bereavement Team: ext. 3532 / 3543
• Hinchingbrooke Mortuary & Bereavement Team: ext. 7433 / 8029

If you need further support or have questions about pathology or post-mortem services, the Cellular Pathology Office is available to assist.