Why are there long delays for child postmortems in the NHS?

There is a critical shortage of specialist paediatric and perinatal pathologists needed to conduct these examinations.

What impact does the specialist doctor shortage have on families?

Families endure harrowing waits, some over a year, for answers about why their child died, leaving them in prolonged distress.

What is the Royal College of Pathologists doing about the NHS crisis?

The college has published a report highlighting the dire situation and calling for urgent action to address the specialist doctor shortage.

Home / Health / Child Postmortem Delays Exceed One Year

Child Postmortem Delays Exceed One Year

23 Nov

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Summary

Specialist doctor shortage causes year-long delays for postmortem results.
Families experience harrowing waits for answers about child deaths.
Services have collapsed in some UK regions due to lack of specialists.

The NHS is facing a crisis due to a severe shortage of specialist paediatric and perinatal pathologists, leading to critically long delays for postmortem examinations of children. Bereaved parents are enduring harrowing waits, with some exceeding a year, to understand why their child died. This shortage has caused services in certain UK regions to collapse entirely, necessitating the transfer of bodies to distant hospitals for examination.

The Royal College of Pathologists' report highlights the dire state of services, revealing that one in five families wait six months or more for results. The lack of consultants means that crucial information, which can aid in subsequent pregnancies and provide closure, is significantly delayed. This situation is particularly acute in areas like Wales, Northern Ireland, and parts of England, which have no or very few specialists.