For Undertakers

Last updated: 6 Jan 2012

The mortuary facilities at Maidstone and at Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury are for hospital deaths only. Kent County Council has arranged for community deaths be taken to either Medway Maritime Hospital Mortuary (from Maidstone area) or Greenwich public mortuary (from Tunbridge Wells area).

Collecting the deceased

The deceased will only be released from the mortuary for burial or cremation on production of the original funeral director release form, signed by the family. This is issued to the family by the hospital when the family collects the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.

This saves waiting for the the death to be registered and the green disposal form to be issued by the registrar, allowing the bereaved to view the deceased at the funeral parlour more quickly.

A copy of the green disposal form (issued by the registrar) will not be accepted as authorisation for collection.

Mortuary Opening Hours

If urgent access is required when the mortuary is closed, please contact the On Call mortuary technologist via switchboard on 01622 792000

Cremation Fees

Payment should be sent directly to the doctors completing cremation papers. . A form providing this information will be attached to each cremation paper. Please do not hand payments to mortuary staff or patient affairs officer.

This information was in a letter sent to all Funeral Directors in the catchment area on 15 June 2011