A BEREAVED family unknowingly cremated a stranger after a body mix-up at a scandal-hit super-hospital.
Loved ones were horrified to learn after the funeral that morgue staff had passed undertakers a wrongly-labelled corpse — denying a second family the chance to give the relative a proper send-off.
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Morgue staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital sent the wrong body to undertakers for cremationCredit: Alamy
Staff at the scandal-hit hospital have been suspended over the blunderCredit: Alamy
Morgue staff have been suspended after it emerged a wrongly labelled corpse was passed to funeral directors — meaning loved ones cremated the wrong remains.
It is not known if the “inconsolable” family have since been able to stage a send-off with the correct body following the blunder at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow last month.
And sources said the ashes of the person whose body was mistakenly labelled have now been passed to their family — who were also denied a final goodbye.
It is understood First Minister John Swinney has been told about the latest in a series of scandals to unfold at the £842million site.
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An insider said: “How the hell does something like this even happen? The family were inconsolable.
“Serious questions need to be answered and answered fast over this monumental cock-up.
“The place needs urgent change.”
It remained unclear how the mistake came to light but chiefs blamed “human error”.
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Insiders confirmed there was one mistaken cremation.
NHS bosses plus the Senior Inspector of Burial, Cremation and Funeral Directors have been ordered to carry out probes.
Slamming the mix-up, Tories shadow public health minister Brian Whittle said: “Families entrust the NHS with their loved ones at their most vulnerable moment.
“Yet basic procedures have been ignored with devastating consequences.
“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde must explain how on earth this was allowed to happen.”
In a statement the health board said: “A full investigation is underway following the wrongful release of a body from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s mortuary to an undertaker.
“The serious issue, which was only identified after cremation had taken place, was the result of human error. Family members have been informed and full support is being offered to them. Staff involved have been suspended.”
TEN YEARS OF TURMOIL
2015: Opening of £842m ‘super-hospital’ campus.
2016: Reports of sewage leaks and ventilation problems.
2017: Death of Milly Main, 10, who suffered infection linked to bacteria found in water supply.
2018: Two kids’ cancer wards close over infection fears.
2019: It is revealed two patients died after contracting fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings.
2020: Hospitals Inquiry launches.
2021: Police reveal criminal probe into deaths at hospital, including Milly Main’s.
In an apology, medical director Dr Scott Davidson insisted the hospital had “very rigorous” identification and labelling processes.
He said: “It is of deep regret that these have not been adhered to and that a family have been caused significant additional distress.”
The Scottish Government said: “We are deeply concerned. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde must fully investigate.”
NHS chief Dr Scott Davidson apologised for the devastating mistakeCredit: NHS Scotland
Scottish Tories shadow public health minister Brian WhittleCredit: Alamy
It comes days after it emerged a nurse at the same hospital is to stand trial charged with giving a man a fatal dose of a drug meant for another patient in August 2022.
We told previously how seriously ill babies were moved from the neonatal ward after a leak was found in the roof.
And in March a baby was left fighting for his life after being given a paracetamol overdose.
The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry is probing bugs, deaths and public safety at the campus.