Overview

This information explains the procedure that you or your family will need to follow, if you want to retain your amputated limb. This will only be so that you can arrange for it to be buried according to your wishes and beliefs.

This process is called limb repatriation.

You have to discuss this with your surgical team before your surgical procedure.

Our chaplaincy team are available to support you in your decision making. Please ask a member of the ward team to contact them.

We can store your limb for up to 28 days. This will give you time to make the necessary arrangements to either bury your limb, or retain it for a longer period in a private facility (mortuary or funeral directors) of your choice.

Your limb will always be handled and stored respectfully.

You’ll need to tell us who we can contact about collecting your limb, if you’re unable to. This person must be your next of kin, or appointed by you.

Read the NHS information about amputation

What happens to your limb

After surgery, your limb will be respectfully wrapped and labelled and transferred to our mortuary. This is where your limb will be stored for up to 28 days in an approved refrigerator. During this time you can arrange the collection, and storage or burial, of your limb.

We cannot store your limb for more than 28 days, so you must arrange collection within this time.

You (or your next of kin, or appointed person) will receive a letter from the mortuary team to remind you to make these arrangements. If your limb is not collected within 14 days of the surgery, you (or your next of kin, or appointed person) will receive a second letter. This letter will give you the final date that your limb can be collected.

If your limb is not collected within these 28 days, it will be incinerated. This is similar to being cremated, but you will not have the option of keeping the ashes. This is in line with our hospitals’ policy.

You or your family will need to make arrangements to collect your limb from the mortuary. It can be collected by you or an appointed family member. Some funeral directors may also offer this service for a charge.

Process and paperwork for limb repatriation

Removal to a burial site

All councils have different policies, but some offer specific burial sites for amputated limbs. If a site is confirmed for the interment (burial) they’ll need:

• signed consent from the patient instructing interment
• confirmation from the surgeon that the amputation took place

Some councils will require different paperwork.

They might issue an ‘Application for entombment of amputated limbs’ form, which will need to be signed by mortuary staff when the limb is collected.

The boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark do not offer this service

You might want to contact your local Anglican Church for further advice

The ‘Gardens of Peace’ Muslim Cemetery offer this service for Muslim patients.

Please contact the United Synagogue for Jewish patients on 020 8343 8989 for more information.

Removal to a private mortuary or funeral director

When an interment date is confirmed, our mortuary can be contacted, phone 020 7188 3925, to arrange collection of the limb on the day of interment.

To be able to collect the limb, you’ll need to show the mortuary team:

• signed consent from the patient (or their next of kin or appointed person) to release the limb
• photographic ID of the person collecting the limb

The mortuary will then issue the ‘Release of surgical amputation for burial’ form, to be completed by mortuary staff and the person collecting the limb.

All documents will be photocopied and both parties will be given a copy.

The limb will be released, packaged and labelled ready to take to the burial site.