P2-32 Response Accepted AI-assessed

Ambulance policies on deceased security and dignity

Recommendation

NHS ambulance services should also have policies regarding the security and dignity of the deceased, including when the deceased should be covered and/or secured. NHS England should monitor that such policies are in place.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to available information, NHS England was working with ambulance services on developing policies concerning the security and dignity of the deceased, including covering and securing deceased patients, and was to monitor that such policies are in place. According to the government's formal response, this followed the government's acceptance of the recommendation in December 2025. According to available information, no specific policies have been identified as published.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, questions-statements.parliament.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Response
Accepted
Accepted NHS England
01 Dec 2025

The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has written to the Department of Health and Social Care setting out the work they are doing to implement recommendations 31-33. This includes discussing with ambulance service leads to ensure all ambulance services review their policies around managing the deceased and introduce a clear policy if there is none. The AACE suggest that policies include specific wording around the care of the deceased and contain detail and guidance around security and dignity in private and public locations.

Progress Timeline
Official Report
01 Dec 2025

Accepted in full. The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has written to DHSC setting out the work they are doing to implement recommendations 31 to 33. This includes discussing with ambulance service leads to ensure all ambulance services review their policies around managing the deceased and introduce a clear policy if there is none currently. AACE suggests that policies include specific wording around care of the deceased and contain detail and guidance around security and dignity in private or public locations. (Source: Interim update on government progress in responding to the Fuller inquiry phase 2 report, December 2025)

Source
Inquiry Fuller Inquiry
Report Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 Report 15 Jul 2025
View Source
Responsible Bodies
NHS England Primary
Themes & Tags
Patient dignity and privacy Care safeguarding systems Deceased Policy Dignity Ambulance
Recommendation age 0.7 yr
Last formal update 01 Dec 2025