FI17290

Request

I am submitting a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please could you provide the following information relating to post-mortem services commissioned by your council or coroner service:

1. The number of post-mortem examinations conducted in your local authority area in each of the last five calendar years (or financial years if more accessible).

2. A breakdown of the types of post-mortems (e.g., standard, forensic, hospital, etc.) if recorded.

3. The number of pathologists currently available or on record for conducting post-mortems within your jurisdiction.

4. Whether your council has outsourced post-mortems to external companies or agencies – if so:
o The names of the companies or agencies used in the past five years.
o The fees paid to these external providers per post-mortem, if available.

5. The current fee structure or rates paid to pathologists per post-mortem, if these are directly commissioned by your authority.

6. The current backlog or waiting list for post-mortems (i.e., number of outstanding or delayed cases), as of the most recent data available.

Response

Dover District Council does not hold the information you are seeking. The approriate authority within our District is Kent County Council, who should be able to assist you and can be contacted at the following address: freedomofinformation@kent.gov.uk.