OVER MY DEAD BODY
Fears national pathology shortage will delay funerals
A NATIONWIDE shortage of pathologists has North Queensland funeral directors worried about delays in processing the deceased. The Bulletin has learned increasing numbers of autopsies on regional Queensland bodies are being performed at Brisbane’s John Tonge Centre.
A NATIONWIDE shortage of pathologists has North Queensland funeral directors worried about delays in processing the deceased.
The Bulletin has learned increasing numbers of autopsies on regional Queensland bodies are being performed at Brisbane’s John Tonge Centre.
The State Government has refused to be drawn on the issue or on conjecture that a multimillion- dollar autopsy facility built in Mackay has never been used.
When approached for comment that the Government was set to further centralise autopsy services in Brisbane, Queensland Health said there was no change to services at Townsville and would not comment on Mackay.
The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia said there was an Australia- wide shortage of forensic pathologists and that a NSW model, under which autopsy services were centralised in Sydney and Newcastle, was being considered by other jurisdictions.
The college’s CEO, Debra Graves, said the organisation was trying to produce more qualified forensic pathologists, but it was not easy.
Whitsunday Funerals director Jeff Boyle, who is based at Proserpine, said he understood the State Government was considering increasing the use of the John Tonge Centre.
He said this would mean increased delays and more inconvenience in cases where autopsies were required before local families could bury their loved ones.
Generally, an autopsy is required in cases where a doctor has not issued a certificate on the cause of death.
Mr Boyle said a multimillion- dollar autopsy facility had been built at the Mackay hospital several years ago but had never been used.
Autopsy cases from the Mackay and Whitsundays regions went to Rockhampton and Townsville, he said.
“We don’t have enough pathologists,” he said.
Mr Boyle said he had also complained for years about the Department of Justice’s practice of issuing contracts for conveyancing human remains to mortuaries on terms of 1c transfers but that nothing had been done.
He claimed funeral homes were abusing the system to tout for funerals.
Jeff Boyle’s brother, Burdekin Funerals and Townsville Cremations director Neville Boyle, said any further centralising of autopsy services in Brisbane would cause delays and hardship for families wanting to view the body of a loved one.
“People could be waiting 10 days before they get their loved one back,” Neville Boyle said.
Tony Hart of Rockhampton’s Harts Family Funerals said a Mackay- based woman last month waited almost two weeks to view the body of her deceased son because a pathologist had been unavailable in Rockhampton.
“It was very hard for her,” Mr Hart said.
“As we sat together, my heart was aching for her.”
Queensland Health said in a statement: “There is no change to the autopsy services provided in Townsville. We regularly review the way autopsies are conducted across Queensland to ensure best practices.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said the Coroners Court of Queensland had informed the department the issue was a matter for Queensland Health.