Cremation forms
Request details
Date received:
21/10/2009
Request code:
FOI:000644
Request received from:
Member of Parliament
Request description:
Cremation Forms
Question
Under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act I would like to request details relating to the 'Form Cremation 4'. In order for a body to be released in accordance with cremation regulations, this form must be completed by the registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased during their last illness.
In particular, I would like to request the following information:
1) How many 'Form Cremation 4' were successfully completed in year 2008/09?
2) What was the total of the fees received by doctors employed by the Trust in exchange for completing Form Cremation 4 in year 2008/09?
3) What was the average number of full-time equivalent doctors employed by the Trust in year 2008/09?
Response
Q1. For 2008/09; 350 forms at West Cumberland Hospital were completed, 534 at the Cumberland Infirmary.
Q2: I am only able to provide information for West Cumberland Hospital. At the Cumberland Infirmary undertakers pay doctors directly and the Trust takes no part in these transactions. At West Cumberland Hospital £19,112.50 was paid to medical staff directly employed by the Trust during 2008/09.
Q3: The Trust had an average of 292 full time doctors directly employed during 2008/09.