Data analysis

All data were anonymised on receipt by NCEPOD and a unique number was given to each case and each mortuary. All identifiers pertaining to the deceased, next of kin, pathologist, coroner, hospital and mortuary were removed from the data before being reviewed by the advisors.

Data from both the assessment forms and the organisational questionnaires were abstracted by NCEPOD researchers and analysed using Microsoft Excel and Access to inform the study.