A household went via a complete funeral and cremation believing they have been saying goodbye to their relative-only for the devastating fact to emerge afterwards.
Queen Elizabeth College Hospital in Glasgow (Picture: Getty)
A significant NHS hospital has launched the incorrect deceased individual six instances in a collection of mortuary blunders — with one grieving household unknowingly cremating a stranger. The stunning failures at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth College Hospital have sparked requires a police investigation after it emerged that identification procedures have been repeatedly ignored.
5 formal complaints have been lodged with NHS Higher Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) because the £1billion “super-hospital” opened in 2015. In whole, six our bodies are understood to have been incorrectly launched to funeral administrators. In essentially the most critical case, a household went via a complete funeral and cremation believing they have been saying goodbye to their relative — just for the devastating fact to emerge afterwards. The error left one other household with out their cherished one’s stays.
Dr Sandesh Gulhane (Picture: Getty)
The remaining 5 incidents have been found earlier than funerals occurred, stopping additional irreversible errors, reported the Each day Mail.
The revelations add to a long-running catalogue of controversies on the flagship hospital, which has already confronted intense scrutiny over affected person security considerations and a public inquiry linked to infections.
Scottish Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane branded the incidents “unforgivable” and mentioned police should now step in.
He mentioned: “One incident is just too many. Six is scandalous. At a time when households are grieving, these stunning blunders trigger important misery. Police Scotland ought to examine this matter.”
Labour’s well being spokeswoman Jackie Baillie warned the errors would alarm bereaved households throughout Scotland.
She added: “The discharge of a physique in error would undoubtedly be distressing. This isn’t the primary time this has occurred, and pressing steps should be taken to make sure it doesn’t occur once more.”
One beforehand reported case noticed a grieving granddaughter left traumatised after her grandmother’s physique was handed to the incorrect funeral director. The stays needed to be retrieved after being mistakenly launched to an organization the household had not appointed.
NHSGGC has apologised for the string of failures, insisting that mortuaries function “very rigorous” identification and labelling programs—however admitting these safeguards weren’t adopted within the incidents.
Medical director Dr Scott Davidson mentioned: “It’s a matter of deep remorse that households have suffered extra misery.”
An inside investigation stays ongoing into the cremation mix-up, whereas Scotland’s Inspector of Burial, Cremation and Funeral Administrators can be inspecting the case.
A well being board spokesman mentioned: “NHS Higher Glasgow and Clyde presents a honest apology to the affected households.
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“We recognise the extra misery this has induced and are dedicated to studying from these incidents to strengthen our processes.”
Regardless of these assurances, the dimensions and repetition of the errors will inevitably increase critical questions on oversight and accountability at certainly one of Scotland’s largest hospitals.
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