The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow mislabelled two bodies, causing the wrong person to be cremated and another to be wrongly buried; both errors were found only after the acts took place. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Medical Director, Dr. Scott Davidson, apologised and launched an immediate investigation, saying established identification procedures were not followed. Staff implicated have been suspended pending the probe, and the Scottish Government described the incident as a matter of "deep concern." The investigation is ongoing and officials have offered condolences to the affected families.
Glasgow Hospital Mislabels Deceased: Wrong Person Cremated and Another Buried — Investigation Launched
Jeff J Mitchell/GettyA general view of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow has acknowledged that two bodies were mishandled after staff mislabelled remains, resulting in the cremation of the wrong person and the burial of another. The errors were discovered only after the cremation and burial had taken place, and the health board has apologized to the affected families.
What Happened
According to reporting by national outlets including the BBC, Sky News and The Guardian, errors in the mortuary at one of Scotland’s largest acute hospitals led to two separate, serious mistakes: a family received cremated remains that were not those of their loved one, and a different family had the wrong person buried.
Official Response
Dr. Scott Davidson, Medical Director for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, issued a public apology and confirmed an immediate internal inquiry. He said the board has "very rigorous processes for the identification and labelling of bodies from arrival in our mortuaries until their release into the care of an undertaker," but that those procedures were not followed in this instance.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via GettyA view of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Scotland
"It is of deep regret that these processes have not been adhered to on this occasion, and that as a result two families have been caused significant additional distress at an already very difficult time." — Dr. Scott Davidson
Dr. Davidson told the BBC the likely cause appears to be human error, and that staff members involved have been suspended while the investigation continues. The health board has pledged to apply any learning arising from the probe.
Wider Context and Government Reaction
The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which opened in 2015, has been under recent scrutiny over unrelated concerns, including infection outbreaks and questions about its water and ventilation systems. A Scottish Government spokesperson said officials were "deeply concerned," offered condolences to the families, and instructed NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to carry out a full investigation. The government also said it would consider findings from the senior inspector of burial, cremation and funeral directors.
As of Dec. 27, representatives for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Scottish Government had not provided further comment to People magazine. The investigation is ongoing and further updates are expected as inquiries proceed.
