Wolverhampton's council-owned mortuary in Wednesfield is set to be transferred to an NHS trust, saving the local authority £1.5 million in refurbishment costs. The facility on Alfred Squire Road is the last publicly owned mortuary in the Black Country, with Dudley, Sandwell, and Walsall already using NHS services.
Cabinet Approves Transfer
City of Wolverhampton Council's Labour-run cabinet approved the move on Wednesday, April 22. Under the agreement, mortuary services will be handed over to Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. This will prevent the council from having to spend at least £1.5 million on modernising the Wednesfield site, which requires a new roof, fridges, freezers, and other equipment.
Cllr Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services, said the transfer ensures the council meets its legal duties while avoiding the costly upgrade. Cllr Steve Evans, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, described the decision as making "absolute sense," emphasising the importance of dignity in death. "It just wouldn't be right to continue with a facility that is not up to standard," he added.
Benefits of Outsourcing
Cllr Obaida Ahmed, cabinet member for health, well-being and community, noted that outsourcing to the NHS would provide services in a "safe, regulated, and resilient way." The contract with the trust will cost £119,000, but the council expects to save around £70,000 annually in operational costs. Additionally, the Wednesfield site can be sold for redevelopment.
Mortuary and pathology services are commissioned by Black Country councils for storing bodies of those who died within their boundaries. Sudden, unexplained, or custodial deaths are referred to the coroner. The move aims to modernise services and ensure dignified care for the deceased.
