GEN61 Collect and transport deceased individuals and body parts

Overview

This standard covers collecting and transporting deceased individuals and/or body parts from various locations such as a nursing home, site of a road traffic accident, or a hospital department to a mortuary or funeral home. This standard is not relevant for collecting and transporting living people or cadaveric parts that are still clinically viable for donation or transplantation. Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. Version No 1

Knowledge and Understanding

You will need to know and understand:

1. legislation, protocols, policies and procedures for the collection and transportation of deceased individuals and body parts
2. the need to preserve the clinical environment/forensic scene when removing the deceased individual or body parts
3. the health and safety risks involved in handling and transporting deceased individuals and body parts
4. the precautions to be applied to maintain health and safety and prevent cross infection and contamination arising as a result of handling and transporting deceased individuals and body parts
5. the policies and procedures for notifying and dealing with death:
1. in a clinical setting such as a hospital
2. in a public place/space
3. in a private dwelling
6. the legislation, policies and protocols relevant when completing documentation regarding the collection and transportation of deceased individuals and body parts
 
7. what is meant by the dying declaration
8. the circumstances for forcible entry to private dwellings with good intent
9. mortuary procedures for the receipt of deceased individuals and body parts
10. the policies and procedures that apply when dealing with family/religious/ethnic group wishes and requests
11. the procedures for certification of death and authorisation for the removal of the deceased individual following death under suspicious/unsuspicious circumstances
12. the specific policies and procedures when dealing with a cot death
13. the reactions to death among family members, significant others and third parties
14. the coping strategies that can be applied to manage one’s own reactions to death and enable effective working to be continued
15. the importance of clear, sensitive and respectful communication at times of bereavement
16. the current legislation, guidelines, policies and protocols which affect your responsibilities and work practice
17. the boundaries of your role and the importance of working within your own scope of practice
18. circumstances when further investigations, including post-mortem procedures, can be carried out
19. the information that needs to be recorded regarding the collection and transportation of deceased individuals and body parts

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

1. access the deceased individual and body parts in a manner that does not compromise the environment or the scene of death/site for forensic examination
2. identify whether there is a need for additional assistance in collecting and transporting the deceased individual and body parts, and seek such assistance without delay
3. adhere to legislation, policies and protocols regarding certification of death and authorisation for removal
4. apply standard precautions and health and safety measures to prevent cross infection and contamination from the handling of deceased individuals or body parts
5. collect and transport the deceased individual and body parts safely in a manner that respects the individual’s privacy and dignity, wishes, beliefs and values
6. complete the required documentation accurately and legibly and share or store it as appropriate
7. maintain the security of the deceased individual’s personal belongings
8. behave in a considerate and respectful manner towards any family or significant others who may be present
9. work in accordance with patient confidentiality, data protection and other relevant legislation, protocols and guidelines
10. recognise the effect of dealing with death on your own emotions and manage them effectively

Additional Information

This National Occupational Standard was developed by Skills for Health. This standard links with the following dimension within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004): Dimension: EF3 Transport and logistics This standard has replaced EC_24, HCS_AP1 and HCS_AP10.