• Royal Bolton Hospital becomes first location in Greater Manchester to use digital imaging for post mortems
• In partnership with Manchester West Coronial Service and Digital Autopsy UK, the CT scanning suite reduces need for invasive post mortems by 75%
• Facility officially opened by Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, on Thursday 9 January

Royal Bolton Hospital has become the first location in Greater Manchester to carry out digital autopsies that reduce the need for invasive post mortems and release bodies to families and loved ones sooner.

In partnership with Digital Autopsy UK and Manchester West Coronial Service, the CT scanning suite from Digital Autopsy UK allows organs and tissues to be assessed using radiology, which can highlight causes of death for the deceased without the need for invasive procedures.

Reports are then viewed by highly skilled pathologists to assess if a cause of death can be determined without the need for invasive assessments.

Using advancements in technology, digital autopsies aim to reduce traditional invasive post mortems, in which a pathologist would use specialist tools to investigate a cause of death, by three quarters (75%).

The reports can also be carried out within a matters of hours instead of days, meaning bodies can be released to families much sooner.

Fiona Noden, Chief Executive at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Place Based Lead for Bolton, said:

We know how difficult it is for families following the death of a loved one, which is why we are proud to be the first location in Greater Manchester to introduce technology to improve the post mortem process.

“Introducing this scanner minimises distress and provides greater dignity by making the investigation less invasive, and helps to reduces the time it takes to determine the cause of death, meaning we’re able to release the body to their loved ones sooner.

“This new technology also better supports those with faith considerations by allowing for the timely burial of a loved one and reducing the need for physical interventions.

“We are pleased to be delivering this service alongside our local council partners and Digital Autopsy UK to improve the care and support we can offer to families.

The digital autopsy service using a CT scanner is the first of its kind in Greater Manchester and one of only a few in the UK.

The facility, which will support families living in Bolton, Wigan and Salford, was officially opened on Thursday 9 January by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.

Andy Burnham, who is also Co-Chair of the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, said:

The opening of this digital autopsy facility marks a genuine moment in human progress.

“For families dealing with the aftermath of losing a loved one, the idea of a traditional invasive post mortem can be distressing, particularly for some of our faith groups in Greater Manchester. This moves us to a place where we can offer far more dignity for all of those involved.

“This advancement has future-proofed the way deaths are investigated in Greater Manchester not just for the next decade, but far beyond that. Bolton is well and truly leading the way.

Bolton Council, as the lead local authority with responsibility for the provision of coronial services in the Manchester West jurisdiction signed an agreement with Digital Autopsy UK to provide non-invasive post-mortem examinations to the communities of Bolton, Salford, Wigan and Leigh.

The digital autopsy suite at Royal Bolton Hospital will assist the Coroner in establishing causes of death across the Manchester West jurisdiction.

HM Senior Coroner for Manchester West, Timothy Brennand, said:

The coroner’s jurisdiction of Manchester West deals with 3-4,000 reported deaths annually. In about half of these cases, the cause of death is either unknown or uncertain, requiring the need for a postmortem examination of the deceased.

“This initiative future proofs the ability of the jurisdiction to secure a rapid, definitive cause of death. But this initiative also removes the anguish and anxiety that some families experience at the thought of their loved one requiring an invasive procedure at the direction of a coroner. It also enables the jurisdiction to respect understandable religious sensitivities that can arise in death.

“The new process is quicker, more dignified and all together offers to the bereaved an enhanced service at the most difficult of times in the immediacy of a sudden, unexpected loss.

“I wish to pay particular tribute to Bolton Council, Royal Bolton Hospital and Digital Autopsy UK, who have used their enterprise and initiative to bring this wonderful step forward into service for the benefit of our community.

Digital Autopsy UK is at the forefront of new cutting edge digital imaging technology which means that post-mortems can now be carried out in a computerised environment by digital tools, rather than by a scalpel.

Darren Brown, Chief Executive at Digital Autopsy UK, said:

Working in partnership is at the heart of what we do, and we are delighted to formally open this service in collaboration with Bolton Council, the Coroner, and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

“Digital Autopsy UK is already a proud partner of 23 local authorities across the country, including Sheffield City Council, Lancashire County Council, and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, and we are pleased to bring this innovative service to Greater Manchester. We know that the death of a loved one is an extremely distressing time for families and we are proud that our service helps to provide answers swiftly and effectively.

More information about Laboratory Medicine services in Bolton, please visit Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s website.