A bereaved family in Glasgow has been left heartbroken after mistakenly cremating the wrong body.
The error occurred at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Scotland’s largest medical campus.
Mortuary staff mistakenly labelled and released the wrong corpse to funeral directors.
The mistake went unnoticed until after the funeral service and cremation.
By then, it was too late.
Deeply regrettable
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which runs the hospital, issued a public apology.
The health board described the incident as “deeply regrettable”.
“This should never have happened,” said Dr Scott Davidson, the board’s medical director.
“We have rigorous identification procedures in place,” he said.
“But they were not followed on this occasion.”
Staff directly involved in the error have been suspended.
A full internal investigation is now under way.
Irreversible error
The consequences of cremating the wrong body were immediate and profound. One family believed they were laying their loved ones to rest. Instead, they cremated a stranger.
Another family was denied the chance to have their relative present at the funeral.
For them, there was no final goodbye.
Relatives described learning the truth as shattering. Some collapsed in shock. Others demanded answers through tears.
Advocates say the emotional damage cannot be measured.
Government alarm bells
The incident has drawn the attention of the Scottish Government.
Ministers said they were “deeply concerned” by what happened.
A government spokesperson said officials would examine the findings closely.
That includes reports from NHS investigators and independent regulators.
“We expect full accountability,” the spokesperson said.
“And clear assurances this will not happen again.”
A hospital under scrutiny
The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital has faced criticism before. Recent years have seen infection outbreaks and ventilation failures. Water system problems have also raised serious safety concerns.
These issues form part of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry. The inquiry is examining construction flaws and patient safety lapses nationwide.
Campaigners say the cremation error raises fresh questions. They argue systems failed at the most basic human level.
Calls for stronger safeguards
Experts warn this is not an isolated case. The UK has recorded previous mortuary mix-ups and wrongful burials.
Industry groups say such errors are rare but revealing. They expose fragile systems operating under intense pressure.
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Campaigners want multiple identity checks before bodies are released. Some want independent verification by funeral directors.
Others say families should confirm identity before final rites.
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