UPDATED:'Cock up' over hospital mortuary
WANNABE Tory MP Henry Smith launched a stinging attack on hospital bosses for closing Crawley Hospital's mortuary - only to be told it is still open.
According to a hospital spokesperson, the SASH run element of the mortuary will remain open for hospital deaths while other cases in the borough will be referred to East Surrey Hospital – after a decision by WSCC's appointed coroner's office, not the trust.
In an open letter to trust boss Gail Wanell council bosses claim they were told at the beginning of September that the trust's mortuary services would close at Crawley on September 4 at 4pm.
In the letter, which has appeared on various news websites, Henry Smith accused the Trust of 'causing additional distress', 'inconvenience' and 'expense' to bereaved families by shifting the service.
He added: "The County Council has a statutory duty to ensure mortuary services are available to its residents and as such we find the decision to move West Sussex services out of the county without due consultation with us completely unsatisfactory.
"We therefore request full comments from you on the matter."
However a spokeswoman from SASH has confirmed to the Observer that all patients who die at Crawley Hospital will still go into their mortuary.
Any deaths that occur in the community, and are the responsibility of the county coroner, will now to go to East Surrey Hospital.
She added: "Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust is not closing any of its mortuary services at Crawley Hospital. Anyone who dies at Crawley hospital will remain in the mortuary until their relatives have made suitable arrangements with funeral directors."
A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: "Henry's letter was sent on the best information available and we are seeking to clarify the situation."
In a further press release on Friday, Henry Smith said he would be holding talks with the trust next week.
He said: "The county council maintains that it was under the firm impression that the mortuary would be closing completely.
"It has never been advised that it would remain open for the bodies of people who pass away at Crawley Hospital.
"If it is remaining open for hospital deaths, the county council would want to know why it has been necessary for the coroner to have to transfer her cases outside West Sussex."
SASH say talks about the move had taken place over six months between the coroner, WSCC and health trusts and it was because the coroner's facilities at Crawley needed refurbishing.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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