PUBLIC CRITICISM OF MEDICAL EXPERTS BLAMED FOR CRISIS IN CHILD PATHOLOGY
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The Royal College of Pathologists has claimed that children's bodies are being illegally transported across the country miles from their families due to a critical shortage of paediatric experts to carry out post-mortem examinations, following public criticism of medical experts during the appeal campaign for the late solicitor Sally Clark.
Dr Chris Wright, chairman of the College's prenatal, perinatal and paediatric pathology specialty advisory committee at the Royal College said pressure had increased following recommendations that child specialists should deal with unexpected infant deaths.
"There aren't enough people to do the job and there are particular problems in the South West," Dr Wright said.
"Babies who require post-mortems will be going to other parts of the country which is inadequate and, from the point of view of the family, completely unsatisfactory."
Dr Wright, a Newcastle consultant perinatal pathologist, said there were currently only about 40 paediatric pathologists - not enough to cope with the workload. That figure also showed no signs of increasing, he added.
Gloucestershire Coroner Alan Crickmore said he was forced to break the law.
Speaking to BMA News, Mr Crickmore said that: "The lack of paediatric pathology in the South West is a real problem, and I currently send (infants' bodies) to Birmingham for post-mortems.
"In doing this I act unlawfully, because the Coroners Act 1988 only allows the removal of a body to an adjoining district.
"The Ministry of Justice is fully aware of this problem, and we all turn a blind eye to it to get the job done for the benefit of the bereaved."
The British Medical Association's central consultants and specialists committee also warned of the problem.
Anne Thorpe, chairwoman of the pathology subcommittee, said there had been a shortage of paediatric histopathologists for years.
Histopathology is the branch of pathology which deals with the tissue diagnosis of disease.
She said of the problem: "It was exacerbated after the incident at Alder Hey children's hospital, where post-mortems were not properly completed and organs were stored for a long time.
"Pathologists were vilified in the press and the number of trainees who chose to specialise in paediatric pathology fell even further.
"Histopathology is a shortage specialty, so it is difficult to rectify the problem."
A 2004 report called Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy: A Multi-Agency Protocol for Care and Investigation, was produced by a working group convened by the Royal College of Pathologists and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
It followed the Sally Clark case and recommended that paediatric pathologists carry out post-mortems on infants suffering sudden death.
Beforehand, other pathologists were able to perform post-mortems on both children and adults, easing the pressure on child specialists.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said the plan was to change the law so bodies could be moved further afield.
"We recognise and regret the impact the shortage of paediatric pathologists can have on parents and families who need to understand the reasons for the death of a child," she said.
"However, all post mortems are done to a high standard by an appropriately trained specialist.
"We are working with the Royal College of Pathologists to help increase recruitment into the subspecialty of paediatric pathology.
"In the Coroners Bill, which will be brought before Parliament as soon as time allows, the practice will be given statutory authority."
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: "We are sympathetic to the need to reform current coroners' rules.
"Indeed, the draft Coroners Bill sets out plans for the relaxation of boundary restrictions of this type, so coroners can get the scientific expertise required, regardless of where a pathologist or other specialist is located.
"Until the Bill is introduced, the MoJ expects coroners to consult fully with families before commissioning post-mortems or other scientific examinations, so that families are aware that, regrettably, there might be a need for the bodies of children to be transported further than is ideal."
ENDS