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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place at the Royal Free Hospital to provide death certificates at weekends in respect of members of groups and communities who require them to arrange early burial or cremation because of their beliefs or culture; and if he will make a statement. [117840] Mr. Denham: At the Royal Free Hospital, a doctor who knew the patient in life must sign a cause of death certificate. This is usually a junior doctor, if the death occurs out of normal hours. Once it has been completed, the body can be released to the funeral director who will obtain the death certificate from the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths. The Registrar's office opens from 9am-12:20pm every Saturday and they have an on-call system for Sunday registrations. In response to concerns that have been expressed by some religious groups, such as Muslims, that removal and burial can be unreasonably delayed where the death occurs at the weekend, I understand that the Home Office, which has a general responsibility for coroner arrangements, has asked coroners to ensure that they always take account of the religious feelings of the bereaved and deal with their concerns with understanding and sensitivity. Many coroners have discussed these issues with their local ethnic and religious communities.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

350 c68W; 117840

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Funerals Religion Registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships Royal Free Hospital

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk