If a death happens suddenly

If a death happens suddenly, or the doctor treating the deceased is unavailable, it may not be possible for a medical certificate of cause of death to be issued. If this happens, the death will have to be reported to the coroner.

If the death has been referred to the coroner, they will advise you what to do moving forward. You can also find further information at gov.uk.

Poplar Coroners Court
127 Poplar High Street
London
E14 0AE
Tel: 020 7538 1201

The coroner will not give us next of kin contact information and this may leave the death unregistered. If a death has been referred to the coroner, please let us know by email as soon as you can. We can then contact you to register once we are legally able to.

Mortuary service

The Poplar Public Mortuary is used for the reception and storage of bodies of people who have died in Tower Hamlets.

The mortuary handles deaths that have been referred to the coroner or deaths where a death certificate cannot be issued.

The service is run under the jurisdiction of HM ME Hassel, Inner North London HM Coroner.

The mortuary is opened for emergencies and is an integral part of Tower Hamlets’ emergency services.

Mortuary staff are sensitive to the needs of relatives and friends of the deceased held there, and they can arrange viewings of the deceased if this is requested. The mortuary also provides information and advice as required.

Scheduling admittance and removal

If you need the body of the deceased admitted or removed please complete the following form

Schedule admittance or removal

Contact us

The Poplar Public Mortuary
127 Poplar High Street
London
E14 0AE

Tel: 020 7987 2793

Out of hours: 07714 641 366

Email: poplarmortuary@towerhamlets.gov.uk 
Open: Monday to Friday, 8am to 3.30pm