The council currently has contracts with 2 NHS Trusts who run our Mortuary and Post Mortem Services. Both contracts will expire on 22 January 2021 and there is no provision for further extensions.
• WSHT - Western Sussex Hospital Trust (covers approx. 75% of requirement)
• SASH - Surrey and Sussex Health Trust (covers approx. 25% of requirement)
The council ran a procurement in 2018/19 with a vision of having a dedicated Mortuary – 100% of bodies to go into one location and a vision of moving away from traditional post-mortems, towards digital non-invasive methods. However, the Council only received one bid which was deemed unaffordable. The bid was later withdrawn and therefore the procurement process was abandoned.
The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health has since agreed the commencement of a procurement that will secure ongoing contracts for the Mortuary and Post-Mortem services from January 2021 (Report ref: AH06 20/21). The Director of Communities will now be asked to award the contracts following the procurement exercise.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Divisions affected: (All Divisions);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 22/07/2020
Decision due: October 2020 by Director of Communities
Lead member: Emily King, Assistant Director (Communities) emily.king@westsussex.gov.uk
Contact: Lesley Sim, Head of Libraries, Heritage and Registration Email: lesley.sim@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 0330 022 24786.
Consultation process
Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Acting Director of Communities via the author or officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken
Democratic Services Contact: Erica Keegan Tel: 0330 022 26050
Background3: A Council that Works for the Community