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P2-22

Independent sector SOPs for deceased patients

Fuller Inquiry · Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 Report · Issued 15 July 2025 · Addressed to: Department of Health and Social Care

Government responseDepartment of Health and Social Care: Accepted (Dec 2025)

DeliveryDepartment of Health and Social Care says in progress (Jun 2026)

Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry

●Inquiry recommendation

Independent sector healthcare providers should ensure that there are Standard Operating Procedures and policies in place to protect the security and dignity of any patients that die under their care. Wherever possible, deceased patients' rooms should be kept locked. Providers should also ensure that staff are aware of the need to protect the security and dignity of deceased patients and are able to assess and mitigate risks to this.

Fuller Inquiry, Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 Report · 15 Jul 2025 Source PDF →

Published evidence summary

AI-generated evidence summary

In June 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care reported that work on the recommendation was in progress following meetings with the Independent Healthcare Provider Network, whose members confirmed they had taken action on the report (Department of Health and Social Care, Jun 2026). The department stated that the network was considering how to ensure assurance against these actions, and that it had also engaged independent inpatient mental health providers to ensure they were aware of the recommendations and taking appropriate measures (Department of Health and Social Care, Jun 2026).

AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026.

About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record above reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.

Government response

●Department of Health and Social Care · Accepted · 16 Dec 2025

Words of: Department of Health and Social Care, Interim update on government progress in responding to the Fuller inquiry phase 2 report, 16 December 2025

DHSC officials have met twice with the Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN), which engaged with its members in September 2025. Members have confirmed they have taken action on the report. IHPN is now considering how to ensure assurance against the actions. DHSC has engaged independent inpatient mental health providers to ensure they are also aware of the inquiry's recommendations and take any appropriate measures.

Extract from: Interim update on government progress in responding to the Fuller inquiry phase 2 report

Site note: This is the Department of Health and Social Care's interim update on government progress in responding to the phase 2 report, published on 16 December 2025. It sorts the 75 recommendations into those the government has accepted in full (11), accepted in principle (43) and is still considering (21), and gives words of its own only on the 11 accepted in full. Every word is the Department's, so the rows are filed under it, including where the passage reports what another body has done.

Site note: The recommendation is addressed to the Department itself. The update answers recommendations 22 and 23 together, in this one passage.

Delivery

●Department of Health and Social Care says in progress · 16 Jun 2026

The Department of Health and Social Care has met with the Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN), who engaged with its members in September 2025. IHPN members have confirmed they have taken action on the report, and are considering the vehicle to ensure assurance against the actions. DHSC has engaged independent inpatient mental health providers to ensure they are also aware of the Inquiry's recommendations and take and take any appropriate measures.

From: Fuller Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard

Site note: The source names this recommendation by number.

How this page is built

The recommendation and the government responses are verbatim from primary documents. Delivery statements and other bodies' findings are shown in their own words, each with its source. The summary is written by this site and labelled as such. The Index does not paraphrase sources or characterise intent; it records what has been published.