If you are a bereaved parent or family member or friend seeking information about post-mortem examination, please go to this page.
If you are a healthcare professional looking for the Sands post-mortem consent package, please click here.
If you are a health care professional looking for post-mortem consent training, you can access the Perinatal Post-mortem Consent Programme eLearning created by Dr Asha Shenvi, Consultant Neonatologist, University Hospital of North Midlands and Jo Cookson, Neonatal / Midwifery Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Keele University.
Updated guidelines for fetal autopsy
The Royal College of Pathology (RCPath) updated their guidelines for perinatal post-mortems in June 2024. The new guidelines include a change to how decisions are made about the level of post-mortem that will be carried out. Parental consent will determine the maximum level of post-mortem investigation. The pathologist will use their expert judgement to decide the level of post-mortem that will be carried out within those limits.
NHS interim policy for commissioning perinatal post-mortem services
In October 2022, the NHS introduced an interim policy for commissioning perinatal post-mortem examinations. The interim policy now applies across England, Scotland and Wales. The policy aligns with the new RCPath guidelines, in particular for the triage of perinatal post-mortems.
You can find the interim policy here. NHS England will replace this with a permanent policy statement shortly.
Sands is currently updating the template perinatal post-mortem consent form in line with these changes.