Apology after second hospital body mix-up
A HEALTH board has been forced to apologise to a grieving family after it emerged that a hospital had released the wrong body.
The family were not notified until several months after the death and it is believed a funeral had already been held.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said it was “devastated” by the mix-up at the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran.
The error happened in late 2023 just days before a similar mistake at the hospital which saw the wrong body cremated.
The health board says the mistakes were down to “human error” and it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the latest incident.
It said it is believed there is no known family of the other patient and this is the reason there has been a delay in this case being identified.
A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “We are truly devastated for the family involved in this incident and we are deeply sorry that this has happened in our mortuary.
“It is with deep regret that this incident occurred within days prior to a similar incident already reported and was due to the same human error.
“Our initial investigation has just been completed and we are now further investigating the circumstances surrounding this second incident that occurred around the same time in similar circumstances.
“We have taken appropriate action since November within the mortuary setting and have put in place even more safeguards due to this second case.
“We have also conducted a retrospective audit to ensure that there are no further cases that mirror this incident and we have also asked the Human Tissue Authority to undertake a follow-up audit on our systems and processes for further reassurance.
“We have met with the family to fully inform them about this situation and to offer them as much support as they need.
“We have been informed that there is no known family of the other patient and this is the reason there has been a delay in this case being identified.
“We will keep family members fully updated throughout our continuing investigation. We are deeply sorry, and our thoughts and full support remain with the family.”
In December, a bereaved family received an apology from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board after they attended a cremation for the wrong body. They had to attend a second cremation after the error was discovered at the Grange University Hospital.
The board’s chief executive said at the time that staff had been left “utterly heartbroken” by the mix-up.
Nicola Prygodzicz, of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said they had “identified this mistake through our own processes”.
“Words cannot express how sorry we are,” she said when the first incident emerged in December.
“We are utterly heartbroken about what has happened to the family and we take responsibility for this isolated incident.”
Stating it was an “exceptional case”, she had also said an initial review had been carried out and they were “confident that this is down to human error in an isolated case”.
Ms Prygodzicz had added: “However, we are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident and we will keep family members fully updated throughout our investigation. No words we can say, or actions we can take, can put this right.”
The Grange Hospital opened in November 2020, with the £350m facility becoming the home of accident and emergency and intensive care for people living across Gwent and south Powys.