Health bosses at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have issued a profound apology and suspended staff after a body was incorrectly released from a hospital mortuary, an error discovered only after the wrong person had been cremated.
Investigation Launched into Mortuary Mix-Up
The serious incident occurred at the mortuary of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. It is understood that the mistake, attributed to human error, led to one family holding a funeral service and cremation for a person who was not their relative.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which is Scotland's largest health board, confirmed that a comprehensive investigation is now underway. The staff members involved have been suspended while the probe takes place.
Families Offered Support After 'Significant Distress'
The health board acknowledged that two families have been caused "significant additional distress at an already very difficult time". Both families were informed of the blunder, which is reported to have taken place last month, and have been offered full support.
Dr Scott Davidson, the medical director for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, stated: "I would like to offer my sincere apologies to both families affected. We have very rigorous processes for the identification and labelling of bodies from arrival in our mortuaries until their release into the care of an undertaker."
He expressed deep regret that these strict protocols were not followed on this occasion and confirmed an immediate investigation was launched to ensure lessons are learned.
Political Condemnation and Calls for Accountability
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from politicians. Scottish Conservative public health spokesman, Brian Whittle MSP, described the failure as "shocking and unforgivable".
"Families entrust the NHS with their loved ones at their most vulnerable moment, yet basic procedures have been ignored with devastating consequences," Mr Whittle said. He highlighted that after previous mix-ups at the same hospital, there was no excuse, and demanded the health board be held fully accountable.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said they were "deeply concerned" by what happened and had expressed their sincere condolences to the families involved. They stated they have been clear with the health board that it must fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the wrongful release.
