Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 128-2025
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
You asked:
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning the handling and storage of deceased persons at your hospital’s mortuary.
This request is being made to all NHS hospitals with mortuary facilities located in the UK. I would be grateful if you could provide the following information for your hospital for the most recent 24-month period available:
- The average length of time deceased individuals are kept in your hospital mortuary prior to release for burial or cremation.
- The minimum and maximum duration any deceased individual was retained in your mortuary during that period.
- The total number of deceased released from your mortuary, broken down by:
– Online funeral directors (those primarily operating through online platforms)
– Local/traditional funeral directors (those with a physical local presence)
- The average duration of stay in your mortuary for deceased individuals handled by:
– Online funeral directors
– Local funeral directors
5. The total number of requests for jewellery to be removed, broken down by:
– Online funeral directors (those primarily operating through online platforms)
– Local/traditional funeral directors (those with a physical local presence)
- The total number of requests for the deceased to be dressed for viewing in the mortuary, broken down by:
– Online funeral directors (those primarily operating through online platforms)
– Local/traditional funeral directors (those with a physical local presence)
If applicable, I would also appreciate it if you could share any internal protocols or policy documents regarding the standard retention period for deceased individuals in your care.
Our response:
We do not provide the service mentioned on your request.
Next steps:
Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:
Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.