High Commission and NHS to help repatriation: Kairali UK to work with Cambridge community

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON May 31: Prathiba Kesavan (38), who has been working as registered nurse at Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust, passed away following a cardiac arrest early Sunday morning (28th May 2023).

Prathiba’s lifeless body was found at her residence in Swaston in Cambridge. She leaves behind her husband and two young daughters, Shreya and and Sreshta, who are living in Kerala.

Due to Monday 29th May being Bank Holiday, official papers could be moved for the repatriation process only yesterday (Tuesday 30th May 2023).

During this time Kairali UK and Cambridge Kerala Cultural Association have been liaising with Prathibha’s bereaving family members in the UK and in Kerala from Sunday. Kairali and Cambridge Kerala Cultural Association were also proactive in ensuring they made the best opportunity of their time on Tuesday, when the offices opened to make contacts with NHS and Indian High Commission to ensure the process is initiated without any delay.

Robin Kuriakose from Cambridge Kerala Cultural Association was able to arrange a meeting for 31st May 2023, with Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust officials involving Prathibha’s sister for working out the repatriation process, pension fund and any other eligible benefits.

Meanwhile, Kairali UK worked with Prathibha’s sister in having liaisons initiated with the Indian High Commission in London.

Follwing this Indian High Commission officials rang Prathibha’s sister in the UK and offered their support and gave her direct access to speak to them until the whole repatriation takes place.

Therefore, the Indian High Commission in London will monitor the process and ensure all documents are issued without delay once the death certificate and other necessary documents are obtained from local authorities.

It is learnt that Indian High Commission in London have provisionally confirmed with Prathibha’s next of kin in the UK that they will help and assist the family and community in the repatriation of the body of Prathiba Kesavan to Kerala.

Meanwhile, Kairali UK will continue to raise funds to help and assist the two young daughters of Prathibha. Due to very personal reasons we arent publishing further reasons for raising the funds to respect the privacy of the family.

Kairali UK has also made a decision to work with all organisations in Cambridge in the whole repatriation process and also with a decision to jointly pay the last respects once all formalities are over.

The entire process of repatriation of a body of a foreign national in the UK takes between two to three weeks due to strict rules followed by the UK government where several agencies are involved and will have to link up with each other or coordinate between them.

It is at this juncture where organisations have to play their proactive role in ensuring there isnt any time missed with delay from any particular department. This website, which has been independently monitoring the process can vouch that Kairali UK has ensured they did all what they could on the first day when the offices opened after the Bank Holiday weekend yesterday.

Now the process requires the coroner from the local council area to give his report clearing the death to the registration department and then the death registration to take place followed with the issuance of the death certificate which will kickstart the whole process.

Prathibha was about to fly back to bring her two daughters to the UK. Unfortunately, fate has devastatingly taken away the excitement of that long awaited family reunion forever.