Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust is under fire after a regulatory inspection discovered eight bodies in a state of advanced decomposition. The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) identified that a lack of adequate freezer space at the Queen’s Medical Centre forced staff to leave these bodies in refrigerated rooms that were insufficient for long-term preservation.
Beyond the decomposition issues, inspectors raised alarms regarding identity verification protocols, warning that families were at risk of receiving the wrong remains. The report also detailed that some paediatric post-mortems were performed in poorly ventilated labs by untrained personnel. This discovery emerged as part of a wider investigation, Operation Perth, which is currently examining management failings at the trust. Two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with these mortuary operations.
Donna Ockenden, who is heading a separate, extensive review into the trust’s maternity services, highlighted a recurring inability to maintain the dignity of the deceased. These findings follow years of complaints from families, including the parents of a stillborn child who suffered significant decomposition due to poor storage. NUH Chief Executive Anthony May and Medical Director Manjeet Shehmar have expressed deep regret, stating that the trust is now implementing an action plan to address the critical shortfalls identified by the HTA.
