Concerns Raised Over Mortuary Procedures At Worthing Hospital

Families could have been at risk of being shown the wrong body at Worthing Hospital, according to inspectors.

The Human Tissue Authority found a number of concerns with identification, security and privacy procedures during an inspection of the hospital's mortuary.

Inspectors found three identifiers were not routinely checked against the details provided by families before viewings.

The report says this created a risk of bereaved relatives viewing the wrong body.

A near miss involving body identification was also uncovered, although staff had not reported it to the regulator.

The inspection on July 7 and 8 found further concerns, including a body being prepared for release which was visible from a public footpath.

A fire exit was being left open during hot weather to provide ventilation, giving what inspectors described as "unrestricted access" to the body store.

Inspectors also found issues with CCTV, access controls and the storage of bodies across University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Twenty-one incidents over the previous two years met the threshold for reporting to the Human Tissue Authority but had not been reported, including 16 potential near misses.

Seven bodies at Worthing and the Royal Sussex County Hospital had remained in refrigerated storage for more than 30 days and had continued to deteriorate.

The inspection also found problems with consent records for stored tissue, while some CCTV images from viewing areas and body storage could be seen on monitors in a security office.

Access control systems at Worthing and St Richard's Hospital were also found to be failing, meaning restrictions could not always be guaranteed.

The Human Tissue Authority identified 10 major and six minor areas requiring improvement.

University Hospitals Sussex says it has made "immediate improvements to strengthen security and privacy" and that most of the issues identified have already been addressed.

The Trust says the dignity, security and respectful care of people after death are "of fundamental importance", adding that it is working closely with the regulator.

Its licence has not been suspended or revoked.