Digital Autopsy Service Launched to Reduce Invasive Post-Mortems in Heywood and Surrounding Areas

The Coroner’s Office for Greater Manchester has launched a pioneering digital autopsy service that aims to reduce the need for invasive post-mortems by up to 80% across Rochdale, Bury, and Oldham. This innovative service, developed in partnership with the NHS, specialist post-mortem imaging provider Anubix, and medical imaging provider TIC Health, seeks to offer families a less distressing alternative during their time of grief.

The service will employ computed tomography (CT) scanning to help determine the cause of death without the need for traditional invasive procedures. This approach is expected to alleviate additional anxiety for families, as invasive post-mortems can often cause further distress during an already difficult time. A number of scans will be conducted each week, with the long-term goal of expediting the process for families following the loss of a loved one.

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, expressed support for the initiative, stating that it is a sensitive issue that has been handled with care. He noted that many residents in Heywood, Middleton, Pennines, and Rochdale have raised concerns about the distress caused by invasive post-mortems, making this new service a timely and welcome development.

Joanne Kearsley, senior coroner for Manchester North, highlighted the importance of this advancement in the coroner’s service, which aims to provide the best possible support for families. The introduction of digital autopsies represents a significant step forward in modernising the coroner’s service and improving the experience for bereaved families in Heywood and the surrounding areas.