Chamber and committees

COPFS has spent £19,485.37 on locum forensic pathologists since April 2024.

Where forensic service providers in Scotland have instructed the use of a forensic pathology locum pathologist to provide assistance, for example to cover sick leave, the costs are not known but there has been no additional cost to COPFS.

COPFS has spent £19,485.37 on locum forensic pathologists in Aberdeen since April 2024.

COPFS has spent the following on locum forensic pathologists in Aberdeen in each of the last ten years:

The current cost of an NHS locum pathologist conducting a post mortem examination in Aberdeen is £600 per examination.

In relation to other incurred costs – which include histopathology, toxicology, administrative costs and mortuary costs - in the year 2023-24 the average cost per examination was £2,568.

COPFS is not responsible for training or recruiting Crown-instructed pathologists.

However, there are currently four forensic pathologist training posts in Scotland and three of those are filled – one in Glasgow and two in Edinburgh. There is currently no capacity elsewhere in Scotland to fill the fourth training post.

Forensic Pathologists are not automatically deployed at the conclusion of their training. There must be a post available with a service provider and Forensic Pathologists need to apply through normal recruitment processes.

Capacity within Aberdeen mortuary is not an issue and there are no current plans to increase the capacity for conducting post mortem examinations in Aberdeen.

A new mortuary facility in Aberdeen that will co-locate the Aberdeen City Mortuary and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Mortuary business is due to open in 2025. This will provide improved facilities for staff and families who are required to engage in the post mortem process.

All doctors are expected to work within the standards set out by the General Medical Council for good medical practice.

The Royal College of Pathologists and NHS Education for Scotland oversee training standards in pathology and their uniformity across Scotland.

COPFS regularly meets and engages with pathology providers on a range of issues. These also allow discussion on any feedback received. Every post mortem examination report is considered by a COPFS legal member of staff and our investigation is only concluded when we are satisfied that all issues have been addressed.

COPFS’ case management database does not recognise the category of death of ‘medical mishap’. However, in the majority of medical deaths where there are concerns about the circumstances there would be no requirement for the post mortem examination to involve forensic pathologists.

All locum pathologists used to cover non-suspicious Crown-instructed post mortems in Aberdeen are NHS consultants with significant experience of conducting examinations. Prior to being instructed by the Crown, each locum pathologist is interviewed by COPFS officials and an experienced Forensic Pathologist to confirm that they have the appropriate skills and experience to take on the role.

There are no identified quality issues with the post mortem examinations being carried out by locum pathologists in Aberdeen.

NHS Grampian has provided COPFS with a commitment to implement a forensic pathology service in Aberdeen, including the recruitment of full-time forensic pathologists, and COPFS is supporting that process.

It is however a matter for NHS Grampian to recruit forensic pathologists to provide the services.