Reporters Elen Davies and Sara Dafydd from BBC News have shed light on a concerning issue where families are being deprived of the opportunity to bid farewell to their deceased loved ones. The delay in receiving bodies due to changes in death certificates has led to overcrowding in mortuaries, causing distress to grieving families. Funeral director Geraint Griffith revealed that bodies are taking up to 10-20 days to arrive under the new system introduced in September. This extended waiting period is making it difficult for funeral directors to prepare the deceased in a presentable manner for their families.
The situation has become dire with overcrowding forcing hundreds of bodies to be transferred to different mortuaries without informing the families. The lead medical examiner for Wales has acknowledged the delays and is working tirelessly to resolve the backlog. The alterations in the death certification process were partially prompted by the murders committed by notorious serial killer doctor Harold Shipman, which mandates independent reviews of all non-coroner investigated deaths. Mr. Griffith emphasized the emotional toll this delay is taking on families, with some unable to even see their loved ones in a presentable state.
Due to the mounting pressure caused by delayed body transfers and lack of capacity in mortuaries, health boards are moving bodies between hospitals to manage the overflow. Funeral director Iwan Evans highlighted that the system, not the staff, is to blame for these delays. He stressed that the bureaucratic nature of the medical examiner process is directly responsible for the lack of mortuary capacity. Despite health being devolved in Wales, death certifications remain under central authority, prompting calls for intervention from the Welsh government to address these challenges.
Rachel Bradburne from the National Association of Funeral Directors criticized the fragmented nature of the current system, labeling it as bottlenecked and rife with delays. Lead medical examiner for Wales, Jason Shannon, expressed empathy for families experiencing delays and assured that efforts are being made to streamline the certification process. The Welsh government issued an apology to affected families and stated that the changes aim to bolster safeguards. Collaboration with medical professionals, organizations, and additional support is being provided to alleviate the strain on the system and deliver timely services to families in mourning
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