Family cremates wrong body after it is released by hospital by mistake

A family unknowingly cremated the body of a stranger following a mix-up at a scandal-hit NHS hospital in Scotland.

Mortuary staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow passed a wrongly labelled corpse to undertakers.

As a result of the blunder, a service organised by one family to remember their loved one saw the wrong body cremated.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - Scotland's largest health board - accepted 'two families have been caused significant additional distress at an already very difficult time' as a result of the incident.

It is understood human error was to blame for the 'wrongful release' of the body from the health board's mortuary at the hospital.

The tragic mistake is only the latest in a series of scandals to hit Scotland’s biggest hospital, which opened ten years ago.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed a full investigation is now under way, with staff involved suspended while this takes place.

The families affected were informed of what had happened, with 'full support' being offered to them after the incident, reported to have taken place last month.

Dr Scott Davidson, medical director at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: '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.

'It is of deep regret that these processes have not been adhered to on this occasion, and that as a result two families have been caused significant additional distress at an already very difficult time.

'We launched an immediate investigation into this incident and will ensure that learning is applied.'

Scottish Conservative public health spokesman Brian Whittle branded the incident a 'shocking and unforgivable failure'.

The MSP added: 'Families entrust the NHS with their loved ones at their most vulnerable moment, yet basic procedures have been ignored with devastating consequences.

'After previous mix-ups at this very hospital, there is no excuse. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde must be held fully accountable and explain how on earth this was allowed to happen.'

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We wish to express our sincere condolences to the families involved with this terrible incident.

'We are deeply concerned by what has happened and have been clear with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that they must fully investigate the circumstances.'

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that a QEUH nurse is to stand trial on a charge of culpable homicide after allegedly giving a man a fatal dose of a drug meant for another patient, in 2022.

Just a year after the hospital opened, reports began to emerge of sewage leaks and ventilation problems at the site, according to The Times.

Then, in 2017, ten-year-old patient Milly Main died during cancer treatment after contracting an infection found in water at the hospital.

Two child cancer wards closed the following year in connection with infection fears, while, in 2019, it was revealed two patients died after contracting fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings.