Contracts for the Provision of Mortuary Services

The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 places a duty on Coroners to investigate deaths

that are referred to them if they have reason to think that:

 The death was violent or unnatural;

 The cause of death is unknown; or

 The deceased died while in prison, police custody or another form of state detention.

In some cases, the Coroner will order a Post-Mortem (PM) to establish the cause of death, and in such cases, the deceased is taken to one of five NHS mortuaries across Kent and Medway. On behalf of the Kent Senior Coroners, KCC ensures access to body storage and PM facilities across the Kent coroner areas.

Contracts with Dartford and Gravesham, East Kent, Medway Maritime and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trusts for the provision of PM facilities are in place to fulful this requirement.