See also

PM General Directions April 2010 FAQs

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding compliance and audit for the post mortem sector.

Where can I find information on the General Directions issued by the HTA?

The General Directions issued to the post mortem sector are below, further information is available from our legal directions page.

Directions 001/2010

Directions bringing into force annual compliance reporting for establishments with an HTA post mortem licence.

Directions 002/2010

Directions bringing into force an audit of relevant material removed from deceased persons during post-mortem examination, for establishments with an HTA post mortem licence.

How do I submit compliance information to the HTA?

Your compliance information must be submitted on two forms:

  • PM compliance report June 2010 submission
    (Excel spreadsheet of compliance ratings)
  • PM compliance self-assessment questionnaire June 2010 submission
    (Word document of compliance evidence)

Your compliance report and self-assessment questionnaire must be uploaded to our system.

Instructions on how to upload documents can also be found on the ‘submitting post mortem information’ page.

The audit summary is not due until 30 September 2010.  Does it matter when I do the inventory as long as it is submitted by that date?

No, the inventory will be a snapshot of what you are retaining at the time you do it.

The audit of cases where blocks and slides were made covers the period of 1 July 2008 – 30 June 2009; therefore this data is not affected by when you do it.

My establishment stores relevant material under the Human Tissue Act but it is not on your list of relevant material for the purposes of the audit (e.g. swabs, bile, urine, blood). Do I have to do the audit?

We understand that not all licensed establishments store the relevant material listed for the audit.  However, in order to ensure we have received a response from all PM licensed establishments we would like you to return an audit summary form even if all the questions are answered with ‘0’ or ‘not applicable’. 

Our establishment does not store tissue; do we need to complete the audit?

We understand that not all licensed establishments store tissue; however in order to ensure we have received a response from all PM licensed establishments we would like you to return an audit summary form even if all the questions are answered with ‘0’ or ‘not applicable’. 

Our establishment is a storage-only facility; do we need to complete the audit?

The audit does not apply to establishments that are storing tissue in the form of blocks and slides as part of an archive for NHS Trusts. Where this is the case, the originating establishment is responsible for ensuring that this material is accounted for in the audit where appropriate.  This is because most of the material held off-site falls outside the scope of the audit as it predates the Human Tissue Act.

For establishments which transfer relevant material to external storage establishments

The originating establishment is responsible for ensuring that any material stored off-site is accounted for in the audit where appropriate.

Do I need to submit the ‘inventory form’ and ‘audit record keeping form’ to the HTA by 30 September 2010?

You are not required to submit any records related to the inventory or audit other than the summary form. However, establishments must retain all audit records (hard copy and/or electronic copy) as these must be made available to the HTA upon request.

You are not required to use the record-keeping form if you would prefer to create your own record keeping system.  If you do not use the record keeping forms provided for the inventory and audit exercises, refer to the summary form so you are aware of the information which will be required to be submitted to the HTA.

How do I submit audit summary results to the HTA?

Your audit summary results must be  uploaded to our system.

Instructions on how to upload documents can also be found on the ‘submitting post mortem information’ page.