CC00202 - Coroner's Removal Service

Worcestershire County Council is responsible for providing the Coroner's service in Worcestershire. The Coroner is an Independent Judicial Officer whose costs are met by the Council. Where a death is considered, sudden, traumatic, unnatural the Coroner may have to undertake an investigation. In certain cases, this may result in a post mortem examination being carried out. It is also the Coroner's responsibility to remove bodies from the scene of death to the mortuary, pending an investigation into the death. Cases that require body removal are mainly limited to community deaths as opposed to hospital deaths. There may be instances however, where a deceased may have to be transported to another location if a specialist examination is required. All deaths where the cause of death is not considered natural are referred to the Coroner. There may be deaths that are natural which may have happened more quickly than thought. These are not cases for a Coroner and therefore the family arrangements are proceeded with. The Coroner, Coroner's Office or Police will instruct an undertaker to collect the body and take it to the mortuary. In some cases, the Ambulance Service may request a collection but these should only occur when one of the above criteria is met (sudden, traumatic, unnatural) There will be instances when deaths require removal to another hospital with a mortuary in or out of the County of Worcestershire; such removals will be covered by the terms of this contract. If for any reason the mortuary cannot accept a body immediately it may have to be stored in suitable, temperature-controlled accommodation until such time it can be accepted. The Council will need to satisfy itself as to the adequacy of such accommodation prior to the award of contract. Please answer the questions that can be found on In-Tend https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home and send your response back via email to EMcGhee@worcestershire.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 19th December 2025. All responses will be treated as confidential and not shared with other organisations, however, the final specification and tender model may be influenced by this and other stakeholders. Many thanks for taking the time to complete this questionnaire - please ensure you monitor the Council's In-Tend procurement portal to ensure you don't miss future tender opportunities.