New call for autopsy scanner

MORE than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Birmingham coroner to be supplied with a CT scanner to speed up autopsies.

The high-tech scanner can produce three-dimensional digital images of the body and remove the need for invasive post mortems and allow bodies to be released to relatives quickly.

Both Jews and Muslims prefer scans because they regard the sanctity of the body after death as important.

But currently Birmingham Coroner’s Office has to book a basic scanner owned by Sandwell Borough Council or a more advanced scanner at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Scans are suitable for more than 1,000 autopsies a year in Birmingham.

The coroner’s office is run by the council and the issue was raised repeatedly at the council leader’s monthly question time session.

Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors joined members of the Bir- mingham Community Forum in renewing calls on the Labour council leadership to invest in a scanner.

Council leader Ian Ward (Lab, Shard End) said: “The Birmingham and Solihull coroner currently provides digital post mortems at Sandwell and the John Radcliffe Hospital.

“These have been since June 2015.”

Scans are used in cases where the coroner believes they can reveal the cause of death. The price is in the region of £500 per autopsy for the family.

“I am now looking into the issues rasied by the Birmingham Community Forum and petitioners,” said Cllr Ward.

“I am investigating what might be done.”

The corporate services scrutiny committee is expected to debate any petition of more than 10,000 signatures. As a result, chairman Mohammed Aikhlaq said that the issue would be discussed at its next meeting. available to us