Home / Health / Chester Hospital Mortuary Fails Critical Standards
Chester Hospital Mortuary Fails Critical Standards
24 Sep
Summary
- Critical failings found in Countess of Chester hospital mortuary.
- Foetal remains stored in fridges instead of freezers.
- Risk of families viewing incorrect foetal remains identified.
The Countess of Chester hospital has been subjected to severe criticism due to significant failings within its mortuary services concerning the handling of foetal remains. An inspection by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) uncovered critical and major deficiencies. These included the improper storage of babies' remains in fridges rather than freezers, a practice that falls far below expected standards.
Furthermore, the inspection highlighted a concerning risk that bereaved families could potentially be exposed to viewing the wrong bodies. While the HTA found that the hospital met most standards, the identified failures, including one critical breach and multiple major ones, have led to calls for immediate procedural improvements.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has acknowledged and fully accepted the HTA's findings. The trust has issued an apology for the shortcomings and assured that its procedures have since been significantly strengthened to prevent future occurrences. It is important to note that no findings in the report are linked to the period when Lucy Letby was employed in the hospital's neonatal unit.
