The transportation of bodies on behalf of the Senior Coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

In general all deaths not entirely due to natural causes or where a cause of death is unknown should be reported to the Coroner. When there is a sudden death, it is the responsibility of the Coroner to examine the cause of death and to remove bodies from the scene to the Mortuary, pending a post-mortem examination.

The cases that require the removal of a body in this way are mainly community rather than hospital deaths. The Coroner through the Police Control Centre or a Coroner's Officer will instruct a Provider to collect the body and transport it to the mortuary.

Body removals will need to be undertaken from different locations in the County and taken to specified mortuaries at locations in Cornwall, Devon and on occasions nationally, at short notice and at any time. In order to ensure this process is carried out efficiently, Cornwall Council is seeking to appoint Providers by competitive tender to provide this Service which will be used by the Coroner for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly. The Council is the responsible body and is therefore carrying out the tender process on behalf of the Coroner.