Provision of Funeral Care Services for Anatomical Science Laboratory

Tender description

CLAS has a whole donor (bequeathal) program. Our website has information about our activities (www.southampton.ac.uk/clas/). The tenderer is welcome to view the section on "Bequeathals" and download our information pack for a better understanding of our activities and programme. The operation of our donor program is central to this tender. CLAS is licensed for this activity by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). Donors formally consent to the use of their body for purposes of anatomical education, teaching, training and research. The consent records are kept on a secure CLAS database. When we are notified of the death of a potential donor we action a process that involves contact with the next-of-kin(NOK)/executor, relevant medical personnel and funeral directors in order to obtain medical history and cause of death. The process involves a full medical screening before we make a decision on acceptance or decline of the donation. This process is performed by telephone communication between ASL management and NOK. If a donor is accepted, collection and conveyance of the donor to the facility by the tender is arranged. We require a partnership with the tenderer in order to help with the collection and conveyance of the donor to the UHS mortuary. The process needs to be completed within 5 days post-death, to ensure the arrival of the donor for embalming before the body deteriorates significantly. CLAS accepts between 10-20 donors per year. The catchment area for our donors is Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight. The donors are used for anatomical teaching purposes for up to 3 years. After the 3 years, the donor is returned for cremation at the Southampton Crematorium, or burial in a plot pre designated by the donor or next of kin. CLAS will fund the cost of a basic cremation arranged by our funeral partners only. Generally 10-20 cremations or burials will be arranged annually depending on how many donors were accepted to the facility 3 years prior. Therefore, we also require a partnership with the tenderer, in order to help with the arrangement, collection and cremation of the donor at the Southampton Crematorium or burial elsewhere, (It should be noted, that it is unusual for a burial disposal to be requested as the vast majority opt for a cremation).