If someone has died at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), ask the ward team which mortuary to go to and when. If the case has been referred to the Coroner, follow the investigating officer’s instructions.
There are two facilities on the SGH campus, and they serve different situations. The SGH hospital mortuary handles cases where a doctor has certified the death and no further investigation is needed. Mortuary@HSA handles cases referred to the Coroner.
The hospital mortuary is for deaths that do not require further investigation. It is located at the SGH Emergency / NNI building, Basement 1 via Lobby D, at 1 Hospital Boulevard, Singapore 168581. Families directed here will be guided by hospital staff on what to bring and when collection can take place.
If the ward team directs you to the hospital mortuary outside counter hours, use the entrance intercom for help.
When a doctor cannot certify the cause of death, or the case is referred to the Coroner, the body is transferred to Mortuary@HSA. This facility is at SGH Block 9, 9 Outram Road, Singapore 169608. The investigating officer assigned to the case will tell the family where to attend, what documents or identification to bring, and when collection is permitted.
Both facilities list the same counter hours: 8 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 12:30 pm on weekends and public holidays. Confirm your collection time with the ward team or investigating officer. Full directions and current hours are on the SGH mortuary page.
When a doctor certifies the death using the online system, the death is registered automatically. Hospital staff will provide information so that an eligible next of kin or authorised person can download the digital death certificate through MyLegacy within 30 days. Details on eligibility and how to download are on the ICA death registration page.
If the online system is temporarily unavailable, the doctor may issue a Confirmation of Death. Follow the instructions the hospital gives you for using it.
Once release is authorised, we can coordinate collection and help with the funeral arrangements. Message us on WhatsApp or call 9871 8388. We answer at any hour.
If the attending doctor cannot certify the death, hospital staff will contact the police. The police arrange the transfer to Mortuary@HSA. The investigating officer will tell the family when to attend and what to bring.
It can help to keep relevant identification documents, medical records, and any medicines the deceased was taking available for the investigating officer. Follow the specific instructions given by the ward team or the officer rather than a general checklist, as requirements differ between cases. More information on what happens when a death is referred is available from the NEA hospital death guide and the HSA forensic medicine page.
Once the hospital or authority has authorised the release, the family or an appointed funeral director can coordinate collection. The staff at the relevant facility will confirm when and how collection can proceed.
Applying for the NEA burial or cremation permit is a separate step from the release itself. A funeral director can assist with this application when authorised by the family. If you need to know who can collect the body or what documents are involved, our guide on who can claim a body from a hospital in Singapore covers the next practical steps.
Ask the ward team or investigating officer. The SGH hospital mortuary in the Emergency/NNI building handles deaths that do not require further investigation. Mortuary@HSA at SGH Block 9 handles cases referred to the Coroner. The two facilities are on the same campus but serve different situations.
When a doctor certifies the death online, registration is automatic. An eligible next of kin or authorised person can download the digital death certificate through MyLegacy within 30 days. The hospital provides the information needed to access it.
For a hospital mortuary case, hospital staff will tell the family when collection is allowed. For a coroner case at Mortuary@HSA, the investigating officer confirms when the body can be released and collected.
Need help after a passing at SGH?
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