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
Source — 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 →
Response — verbatim from government
●Department of Health and Social Care
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.
Department of Health and Social Care · 1 Dec 2025
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 1 Dec 2025 Accepted in full. 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. (Source: Interim update on government progress in responding to the Fuller inquiry phase 2 report, December 2025)
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
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Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.