A shortage of qualified staff has led to the Crown Office taking over the management of post-mortem examinations in Aberdeen. This unprecedented move aims to minimize distress for bereaved families in the city. Since 2022, there has not been a full-time forensic pathologist based in Aberdeen, resulting in over £100,000 being spent on locums last year.
NHS Grampian is well aware of the distress caused to families by any delays in post-mortem examinations. Despite meeting its legal and contractual obligations, the health board acknowledges the need for improvement. The upcoming opening of a new Integrated Mortuary building later this year is hoped to attract and recruit more staff to address the issue.
The average waiting time for post-mortem examinations in Aberdeen is currently around a week. A spokesperson from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service emphasized the necessity of taking over the management of post-mortem services in the city to avoid any gaps in service provision and to minimize distress for bereaved families. Recruitment and training of pathologists are outside the scope of the COPFS’s responsibilities.
NHS Grampian has faced several challenges in recent months, declaring a critical incident in November and signaling the need to reduce spending. Despite the UK-wide shortage of trained staff, the health board is committed to meeting its obligations under the Public Health etc (Scotland) Act 2008. While efforts are being made to establish a forensic pathology service, the Scottish government assures that appropriate coverage is being maintained with the help of locums
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