SS17111 Coroners Removal Services in Kent

Expressions of Interest Coroners Removal Services in Kent
In all cases of sudden or unexplained death for which the Coroner is unable to establish the cause of death, a post mortem must be held. In such cases the Coroner assumes ‘jurisdiction’ of the deceased and it is necessary for the Coroner to arrange and pay for the body to be transported from the place of death to a post mortem facility. This process is more commonly known as ‘Coroners removals’. Each year there are about 3,200 Coroners removals across the county. This figure includes around 700 ‘transfers’ where the deceased is removed from one hospital mortuary to another.
The contracts for this service are next due for renewal in August 2018.

Currently, the county is divided into 13 contract areas as outlined below:
- Dover
- Shepway
- Ashford
- East Swale
- Tunbridge Wells
- Tonbridge & Malling
- Sevenoaks
- Thanet
- Canterbury
- West Swale
- Medway
- Maidstone
- Dartford & Gravesham


The areas take account of population density, the location of hospital post mortem facilities, and the number of deaths for the area. The contractor must be at the place of death within 45 minutes of being called to remove the deceased.

The Council is currently engaging with the marketplace to inform the new contract going forward and we would welcome any expressions of interest at this time. We are currently considering a range of contracting models going forward including but not limited to; letting the contract as a whole (consortium bids would be welcome), a rota system by area, contracting individual lots by area. We are keen to understand and take into account the thoughts and experiences of the market and we would happy to consider any other contracting model which may work for this service.
If you would be interested in the opportunity going forward or would like to discuss any of the options, then please contact louise.merchant@kent.gov.uk or adey.giles@kent.gov.uk

It would be helpful if you can include the following in your email:
- Areas you would be interested in contracting for
- Comments on the service going forward