Donate Your Body
Bequest of a body for anatomical examination, education or training.
Our licence from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) allows us to perform anatomical examinations on donated bodies, and store and use them for the purposes of education, training, and research at Newcastle University School of Medicine and Sunderland University School of Medicine. The licences also permit surgical training at Newcastle Surgical Training Centre at the Freeman Hospital.
Make a bequest
We can only accept donations with the consent of the donor in writing which also needs to be witnessed. Witnesses may include a spouse/partner, next-of-kin, executor, friend or solicitor.
Our bequeathal packs contain all the necessary information about the body donation process and detailed instructions, including consent forms should you wish to proceed. You can either download the bequeathal pack or request a bequeathal pack via post or email. If you need the information provided in other formats for example, large print, verbally or translated, please contact us.
Bequeathal Coordinator
Anatomy & Surgical Skills
School of Medicine
Newcastle University
Framlington Place
Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH
Telephone: 0191 208 6616
Email: anatomy.bequests@newcastle.ac.uk
If you need the information provided in other formats for example, large print, verbally or translated, please contact us.
Bequest registration
Please read the bequest pack carefully and discuss your intentions with your next of kin or executor so that they can carry out your wishes after your death. You should return one original paper copy to the Bequeathal Coordinator so that we can include your name in our register of potential donors. You should then keep the second copy.
Unfortunately, no guarantee can be given that a bequest will be accepted. Further information about this is contained within the bequeathal pack.
Procedure at the time of death
Your executor or next of kin should telephone the Bequeathal Coordinator at Newcastle University School of Medicine (0191 208 6616) as soon as possible after the death occurs.
We are open Monday to Friday during normal office hours.
Please note that the office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays including Christmas and Easter.
For deaths occurring over a weekend or in the evening, you should make arrangements to move the body to a funeral director with refrigeration facilities. Then telephone us on the next working day.
There is a voicemail system at the office and next of kin should follow the recorded instructions. The offer of the bequest will be considered immediately when the office reopens.