Mortuary Managers qualified and supported

Today I am updating the House on the response to those recommendations. The Trust published an assurance statement in February 2024 on the implementation of the recommendations from the Phase 1 report. This sets out the progress made to implement the Inquiry’s recommendations.

The range of actions taken by the Trust include requiring that non-mortuary staff and contractors are always accompanied by another staff member when visiting the mortuaries; controlling access to mortuaries using swipe cards; mandating contractors to renew security clearances every three years; and installing CCTV coverage monitoring access to and from mortuary areas. The Trust Board is also providing greater oversight and assurance of legally regulated activity in the mortuary.

I am also reassured that NHS England’s South East regional team held monthly oversight meetings with the Trust between November 2023 and April 2024 (in partnership with Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board) to ensure progress against the Inquiry’s recommendations and to review evidence of the Trust’s progress in delivering their action plan. Ongoing compliance with the Inquiry's recommendations will be monitored by NHS England through regular regional oversight meetings with the Trust, and through other channels as appropriate.

The Trust now complies with this recommendation in full on the following basis:

• A new Care After Death Directorate has been established, which separated the mortuary from the Cellular Pathology. The establishment of the new Directorate resulted in the existing Mortuary Manager being appointed as the Directorate’s Head of Service. A new Mortuary Manager was appointed from among the Trust’s existing Anatomical Pathology Technologists.

• The essential requirements for the new Mortuary Manager post includes “RSPH Level 3 Diploma Anatomical Pathology Technology and Diploma Level 4 Diploma Anatomical Pathology Technology (or significant experience post level 3 qualification in an autopsy active DGH/public mortuary) or pre 2015 certificate and diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology plus top up qualification or leadership certificate”.

• The Mortuary Manager role is subject to the Trust’s standard appraisal process and has access to training opportunities, as required. Their job description includes a requirement “To maintain personal competency and develop records for the purpose of maintaining professional competency and compliance as part of ongoing CPD and training processes”.

No statement on delivery from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been found in the sources searched. This is separate from the response above.