Decision details

Provision of Digital Autopsy

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

Digital Autopsy provides a service that reduces the need for, or level of, further post-mortem examination required.  This report seeks approval to enter into a 5-year contract for the provision of digital autopsy to support the coronial service at a cost of £185,000 per annum.

 

Decision:

That the Cabinet Member:-

 

(a) approves the direct award of a service contract as outlined in the report, namely the ongoing provision of a digital autopsy service to support the coronial service; and

 

(b) delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and Director of Legal and Governance, to:-

 

(i)             decide the procurement strategy;

 

(ii)            negotiate and agree the terms of the new contract with iGene Digital Autopsy; and

 

(iii)          award the new contract to iGene Digital Autopsy.

 

 

Reasons for the decision:

Continuation of the service for the residents of Sheffield is considered to benefit all residents of the city through both reduced post-mortem examinations and through faster release of bodies to families.  Of the alternative options, options 1 and 2 will both, ultimately, result in scanning for Sheffield being either significantly reduced or ended.

 

Option 3 would result in significantly increased costs and involve the transport of bodies to and from Bradford.

 

Option 4 has the possibility to reduce costs, however, the risks involved in this option are considered to be too high to pursue this option and there would be a period where scanning could not be carried out while infrastructure is put in place for this to happen.

 

Alternative options considered:

A number of alternative options have been considered, which were:-

 

Option 1: Revert to the original agreement with iGene;

Option 2: End digital Autopsy in Sheffield

Option 3: Enter in to contract with Bradford Council

Option 4: SCC operates its own scanning service

 

Further details of these options, including their benefits, disbenefits and costs, are set out in the report.

 

Publication date: 08/03/2021

Date of decision: 08/03/2021

Effective from: 13/03/2021

Accompanying Documents: