A hospital of Glasgowin Scotlandbegan a formal investigation after the cremation of a wrong body. The fact was announced after the funeral ceremony.
The UK National Health Service (NHS) health board National Health Service) confirmed the incident, which occurred in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in November.
According to the British media The Guardianthe entity in charge of the health system described the event as a human error of serious consequences for the loved ones of the deceased.
The incident occurred at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and was announced after the funeral ceremony. Photo: Facebook/NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.The administrative ruling prevented a second family from disposing of their relative’s remains during their own funeral. This situation created a crisis of confidence in the mortuary services of Scotland’s largest hospital.
Health authorities admitted that the staff ignored established safety protocols. Workers did not respect identification and labeling processes of the corpses before their delivery to the funeral services.
The hospital’s apology
In a statement, Dr. Scott Davidsonmedical director of the organization, expressed his «sincere apologies» to both families. «We have very rigorous processes for the identification and labeling of bodies, from their arrival at our morgues to their delivery to the care of a funeral home,» he said.
«We deeply regret that these processes were not followed on this occasion and that, as a result, two families have suffered significant additional suffering at an already very difficult time,» he said.
As an immediate measure, The hospital management suspended the employees who had direct participation in the incident. The decision will remain in force until the internal audit that seeks to clarify individual responsibilities is concluded.
Another family was unable to say goodbye to their loved one’s remains at the funeral. Photo: Facebook/NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is already the subject of another public investigation independent for various reasons. This legal process analyzes outbreaks of infections and failures in the water and ventilation systems detected a few years after its inauguration in 2015.
The institution’s history includes questions about the quality of its communication with patients. In September, the former director Jane Grant faced questions about the relationship between the hospital and families affected by previous crises.
