Issue details

Procurement of Mortuary Services

 

The Council currently has contracts with two NHS Trusts who run our Mortuary and Post-Mortem Services:

 

       WSHT - Western Sussex Hospital Trust (covers approx. 75% of requirement)

       SASH - Surrey and Sussex Health Trust (covers approx. 25% of requirement)

 

Both contracts will expire on 22 January 2021 and there is no provision for further extensions.

 

The Council ran a procurement in 2018/19 with a vision of having a dedicated Mortuary – 100% of bodies going into one location and moving away from traditional post-mortems towards digital non-invasive methods. However, the Council only received one bid which was subsequently deemed unaffordable. The bid was later withdrawn and the procurement process abandoned.

 

The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health will be asked to agree the commencement of a procurement that will secure ongoing contracts for the Mortuary and Post-Mortem services from January 2021 and to delegate authority to the Director of Communities 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: 25/02/2020

Decision due: July 2020 by Cabinet Member for Adults and Health

Lead member: Councillor Amanda Jupp amanda.jupp@westsussex.gov.uk

Lead director: Acting Director of Communities

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 Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, via the officer contact.

Democratic Services Contact: Erica Keegan Tel: 033 022 26050

Background3: A Council that Works for the Community

Decisions

Background papers

  • None