The Mortuary provides a place to receive, store and release the deceased, both from the hospital and also for some deaths in the community. It also provides a facility to carry out post-mortems for the hospital and for the Coroner. On this page you will find out information about the Mortuary and procedures for bringing the deceased to the Mortuary and viewing them.
The Mortuary deals with a total of 2500-3000 deaths per year that includes Coroner and hospital post-mortems. Each year around 800 Coroners’ post-mortems are performed with consultation and approval of the Blackpool and Fylde HM Coroner or the North Lancashire, Preston and South West District HM Coroner.
Mortuary staff are qualified Anatomical Pathology Technicians (APTs), and they assist a Pathologist when carrying out post-mortems. APTs also carry out a range of other duties required in the day to day running of the Mortuary, such as receiving and releasing deceased and preparing and laying out deceased for viewing or identification.
The The Cellular Pathology department is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory. No 9009. The Mortuary at BVH is UKAS accredited to ISO 15189:2012 standards, we are also licensed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA).
Mortuary: 8am – 4pm (Monday to Friday)
Tel: 01253 (95) 3583
Foetal Specimens
Here are some important links for users regarding foetal specimens and how to send them, including documentation to print off for reference, if you require any guidance or additional information please contact the Mortuary or Histology via Switchboard on 01253 300000.
The Bereavement Office
The Bereavement Office is where the paperwork relating to a hospital death is managed and is located at the East Park Drive end of the main corridor close to the Pathology Department (Area 2). We liaise with Ward staff, Mortuary staff, Doctors, Coroner’s officers, bereaved relatives, Registrars and Funeral Directors amongst others on a daily basis.
Bereavement Office: 8.30am – 4pm (Monday to Friday )
Tel: 01253 (95) 3723
Out of hours – Contact Switchboard on 01253 300000
NB. Short-stay parking patient spaces (up to one hour) and disabled parking spaces are located in the Pathology car park, in addition; there are also two dedicated spaces for relatives attending the Bereavement Offices.
