What is Bequethal?
Donating your body to a medical school for anatomical research to enhance learning and development for students and professionals studying the anatomy of the human body. Donating your body to a medical school is a valuable gift. Your donation will become an important resource for training healthcare professionals or for research. The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) licenses organisations that collect or receive bodies or other human materials. Under the Human Tissue Act 2004, written and witnessed consent must be given prior to death. Consent cannot be given by anyone else after your death.
How Can I Donate my Body?
Anyone can decide to donate their body, and medical schools welcome the offer of a donation.
To donate your body, we recommend the follow steps:
- Discuss your wishes with family and friends
- Contact your nearest medical school for further information
- Complete the consent form they provide
- Keep a copy of the form with your will
- Tell your family, close friends, executor and doctor of your intention to donate
What happens to my body after research has concluded?
The Medical School will carry out extensive research for two years at which point they will organise and pay for a simple cremation to take place. The ashes are then scattered or returned to the family. You will need to liaise with the Medical School as to whether they will allow a service during the cremation process. If the deceased has requested a burial, this will be at the cost of the family to organise a funeral director to carry out the funeral arrangements.
Medical School Refusing Acceptance
Bequeathal is a free service offered by the medical school where you are leaving your body. They have a contracted funeral director to convey the deceased to them under stringent rules and time frames. The body must be preserved in the best possible way to ensure research can be carried out and they won’t accept donations for the following reasons:
- No Consent Form completed or pre-planning with the medical school
- Certain health conditions
- The cause of a death isn’t natural
- A post mortem has been performed
- Infectious Diseases
- Organ Donation
Our local medical school
Southampton Medical School – University of Southampton
Address: CLAS, Division of Medical Education, Mailpoint 845, Level B, South Academic Block, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD
CONTACT: Kirsteen E. Coombes
TEL: 02380 592630
EMAIL: clas@soton.ac.uk
Postcodes covered: PO BH DT SO SP
For more information, please visit their website where you can access the documents you need to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions about Corneal Donation
Does donation change my care?
No, your care continues as usual; donation is minimally disruptive.
Can my family still visit me if I donate?
Yes, the eye will be fully reconstructed so that families can spend time with their loved one.
Does my religion prohibit donation?
No major religion forbids organ or tissue donation after death. If uncertain, you may wish to consult a local religious leader. Ultimately, donation is a personal choice.
Are there any charges for donation?
No, the service is free of charge and does not result in any costs for the donor or their family.
Will my funeral be delayed if I donate?
In most cases, the funeral timetable is unaffected as donation occurs within 24 hours of death. Should a rapid funeral be required, NHSBT will work closely with the family to meet their wishes. If donation would delay the funeral and the family prefers not to wait, NHSBT will respect this choice.
Where can I find more information about donation?
Further details are available on the NHS Blood and Transplant website: www.organdonation.nhs.uk
Corneal Donation
Changing Lives Through Sight Saving and Sight Restoring Transplant. Our vital role as funeral directors help support and raise awareness for Corneal Donation in the community and hospice care.
Introduction
As healthcare evolves to better accommodate the wishes of individuals at the end of life, the role of funeral directors has expanded, particularly for those who wish to pursue corneal donation as part of their after-death care. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has a well-established partnership with funeral directors across the UK, a collaboration that has grown as more people choose to spend their final days outside hospital settings. This section explores the process of corneal donation within community and hospice environments, where funeral directors are most often called upon to assist with the retrieval of donated corneal tissue.
About NHS Blood and Transplant
NHS Blood and Transplant is a Specialist Health Authority commissioned by NHS England to oversee all aspects of tissue donation throughout the United Kingdom. Their remit includes raising awareness, promoting choice, supporting families, facilitating donation procedures, and providing aftercare. Specially trained healthcare professionals guide families through assessment and consent, ensure the donation is conducted safely, and offer ongoing support. Each year, NHSBT transforms thousands of lives in the UK through organ, tissue, and blood donation. The organisation is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Human Tissue Authority (HTA), holding multiple HTA licences that allow for the safe and legal handling, processing, and supply of tissue for transplantation, research, and education.
Teams Supporting Corneal Donation
Funeral directors typically interact with two main NHSBT teams during the donation process. First, the National Referral Centre—a group of highly specialised nurses—supports families, obtains consent, and ensures all legal and ethical requirements are met. Next, the Retrieval Teams, consisting of trained professionals, carry out the eye retrieval, treating the donor with dignity and ensuring minimal disruption. These teams are authorised under the NHSBT HTA licence to travel to the donor and perform the retrieval, with all members holding enhanced DBS checks for safety and compliance.
Understanding Corneal Donation
Corneal donation involves collecting eye tissue from the deceased—specifically, the cornea and sclera—for use in transplants and research, provided the next of kin or designated family member has given explicit consent. While the entire eye is retrieved, only the cornea (the clear front surface) and sclera (the white of the eye) are used for transplantation. Any other parts may be used for research if family consent is provided. Importantly, corneal donation does not proceed without recorded consent from the next of kin, and retrieval must take place within 24 hours of death. NHSBT will not require changes to the funeral director’s standard care of the deceased, nor the transfer of the body elsewhere for the procedure. The retrieval team conducts a full identity check and examination, collects a blood sample, and completes the retrieval, followed by reconstruction of the eye to ensure the deceased’s appearance is preserved for family viewing.
The Importance of Corneal Donation
According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People, around 2.5 million people in the UK currently experience sight loss—a figure expected to rise to 3.5 million by 2050. NHSBT reports that approximately 6,000 corneal transplants are needed each year to address conditions leading to vision loss. Each donor can help up to ten recipients through the transplantation of corneal and scleral tissue. Despite the impact, corneal donation remains relatively unknown among those nearing end of life. Many people are unaware that this option is available, yet research indicates that when informed, the majority value the opportunity to discuss donation and make an informed choice. For those who choose to donate, the process offers a sense of control, pride, and the ability to help others even after death. Funeral directors, as advocates, play a vital role in supporting these wishes and ensuring the highest standard of posthumous care.
The Involvement of Funeral Directors
When a person in your care wishes to donate, NHSBT’s retrieval team will contact you only after obtaining documented consent from the family, in accordance with the deceased’s wishes. As retrieval must occur within 24 hours of death, funeral directors may receive such requests early in their care of the deceased. The retrieval team will need a private space to prepare and perform the procedure, including an area for changing into personal protective equipment and a clean, flat surface for their instruments. Funeral directors’ staff may observe the procedure if they meet the safety criteria, which the retrieval team will explain. There is a slight risk of bruising or bleeding post-retrieval; if this occurs, the retrieval team will notify you and take measures to minimise it before leaving. Families are advised of this risk during the consent process. The retrieval team will leave documentation detailing the procedure and any additional interventions, as well as a label on the donor indicating retrieval has occurred. In the days following, the team will follow up with funeral directors for feedback and to ensure all needs have been met.
Identifying Donors' Wishes
Often, families are aware of and have consented to corneal donation prior to referral. Community care settings increasingly communicate these wishes to funeral directors during handover. It may be helpful to ask, “Has this person been referred for corneal donation?” during care transfer discussions. In some cases, funeral directors may first learn of the donation wish when contacted by the retrieval team or the National Referral Centre.
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