Mortuary Services
Mortuary Services
- Introduction
- Key Contacts
- Opening Hours
- H.M.Coroner
- Perinatal Autopsy Service
- Trust Bereavement Service
- Visiting
- Chaplaincy
- Request Forms & Guidance
The post-mortem is a useful examination and should not merely be reserved for cases which are referred to the Coroner; the post-mortem serves a useful role in both confirming clinical diagnoses and revealing unexpected pathology and as such plays an important part in good clinical audit and teaching. Consent for hospital post-mortems must be sought from the relatives of the deceased: if approached in a considerate manner most relatives are willing to give consent. A post-mortem can be ‘limited’ if the relatives prefer this. A post-mortem examination should not delay funeral arrangements or disfigure the body.
Post-mortem requests should be addressed through the Hospital Bereavement Officer who will assist with the necessary documentation. A Request for Post-Mortem Examination form should be completed and should include a brief clinical history and an indication of any possible risk of infection or the presence of radioactive devices as well as suitably witnessed and informed consent from the relatives.
It is preferable that interested clinicians should attend a demonstration of the post-mortem findings and for this purpose you should provide your bleep or telephone number.
The mortuaries normal working hours are from 08:30 until 16:30 Monday to Friday.
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) 0191 282 4421
Freeman Hospital (FH) sites. 0191 223 1736
Our department carries out Coronial post-mortems on behalf of the H.M.Coroner for Newcastle Coroners office
Karen L Dilks
H.M Senior Coroner,
Newcastle upon Tyne Coroners Court,
Civic Centre,
Barras Bridge,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 8PS
telephone: 0191 277 7280
fax: 0191 261 2952
We are the regional centre for the perinatal post-mortem service. Our Trust provides this service for all NHS Trusts in the North East of England and Cumbria.
Our lead Pathologist is Dr.Corina Moldovan, contact 0191 282 0907
We have dedicate technical staff that are specialised in this service.
See Request Forms & Guidance here – under ‘Perinatal Request Forms’
Our department works with the Trust Bereavement service which you can contact during normal working hours 08:30 to 16:30 on 0191 282 4348 (RVI) 0191 223 1146 (FH). The Bereavement Office Manager is Mrs Eileen Proud.
We take a pride in the care of how we look after our patient when they are with us.
Relatives wishing to visit their loved ones may do so at our dedicated facilities attached to the mortuaries at the RVI and FH. All visits are by appointment only. These are arranged by our main reception at Leazes Wing direct line 0191 282 5800. Visits are for 30 minutes during the hours of 09:00 to 21:00 every day.
Outside of normal working hours we provide an on call service between the hours of 16:30 and 21:00 Monday to Friday and weekends 09:00 to 21:00.
We work closely with our multi faith Chaplaincy team who provide a 24 hours service for all spiritual and pastoral needs.
To contact a hospital Chaplain, call the main hospital switchboard 0191 233 6161
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital Release Form
See Request Forms & Guidance here – under ‘Mortuary Services Request Forms’
Request and Consent for Post Mortem Examination on an Adult or Child (excluding perinatal cases)
See Request Forms & Guidance here – under ‘Mortuary Services Request Forms’
Deceased Patient Record Form
See Request Forms & Guidance here – under ‘Mortuary Services Request Forms’
