Llandudno, Wales – A funeral director has raised serious concerns over the recent changes to medical examiner rules, causing significant delays for families awaiting the release of deceased loved ones from hospital mortuaries. Since the new legislation took effect on September 9, 2024, those who have passed away without needing coroner investigations must now undergo reviews by medical examiners, resulting in prolonged waiting periods.
Tristan Owen, from the Tom Owen and Son Funeral Directors located on Bod-Hyfryd Rd, explained the distress experienced by families during what is already a difficult time. "Since September last year and the new legislation, it has delayed funerals and families seeing their loved ones for a period of up to three weeks," he said. Previously, families could expect to collect their loved ones' bodies within a week or even just days. Now, the average wait has escalated to two to three weeks.
Owen acknowledged there are exceptions to this timeline but emphasized how devastating the delays can be. "It is very distressing... to be honest, these delays can be incredibly distressing in most cases. I think the policies and processes have been brought in for the right reasons, but the impact they’ve had has been detrimental," he stated. He maintains strong concern for the bereaved, eager to provide them the opportunity to grieve properly and to manage their emotional needs. "My main concern is looking after the families, bringing the person who has died back to our care so the families can visit them if they want to," he added.
Health officials have acknowledged the controversy surrounding the new procedure, with Dr. Sree Andole, the Interim Executive Medical Director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, indicating the need for improvements. He expressed, "The process should be as straightforward as possible," adding commitments from the health board to review and optimize its procedures to handle such cases more efficiently.
Currently, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board reports having 93 spaces at Wrexham Maelor Hospital mortuary, 69 at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and 114 at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. The existence of extra temporary storage facilities can help alleviate some burdens, but Owen and his peers are pressing for more significant changes to prevent any future delays.
The heart of the discussion is the balance between proper medical oversight to prevent mistakes and the need to process families’ grief without excessive delay. Owen, along with other funeral directors, has joined forces with various stakeholders within the NHS and local authority sectors to push for reforms to minimize waiting times. They are actively engaged with health officials to address these pressing matters for bereaved families.
Healthcare executives and funeral directors are united by the goal of ensuring tranquility and timely service for grieving families. The overarching sentiment remains one of urgency: processes must change to uphold both the dignity of the deceased and the needs of their families. The adjustments to the medical examiner system must evolve rapidly to support those stricken with loss, prevent undue emotional distress, and streamline funeral procedures for families during one of their toughest times.
While the legislation’s original intent aimed for improved rigor and safety, its execution has highlighted significant flaws disrupting funeral services and community expectations. Moving forward, both healthcare officials and funeral industry professionals must work cohesively to amend existing regulations and restore compassion-centered practices during these most sensitive moments of human experience.