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The current cost of an NHS locum pathologist conducting a post mortem examination in Aberdeen is £600 per examination.

In relation to other incurred costs – which include histopathology, toxicology, administrative costs and mortuary costs - in the year 2023-24 the average cost per examination was £2,568.

COPFS is not responsible for training or recruiting Crown-instructed pathologists.

However, there are currently four forensic pathologist training posts in Scotland and three of those are filled – one in Glasgow and two in Edinburgh. There is currently no capacity elsewhere in Scotland to fill the fourth training post.

Forensic Pathologists are not automatically deployed at the conclusion of their training. There must be a post available with a service provider and Forensic Pathologists need to apply through normal recruitment processes.

In all areas of Scotland, death certificates are routinely issued on the day of the post mortem examination to allow bereaved families to make the necessary funeral arrangements. On rare occasions, a death certificate cannot be issued on the day of the post mortem, usually due to the need to confirm identification of the deceased. The pathology provider will notify COPFS immediately so any identified family can be updated.

In Aberdeen, the mortuary team email the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) to the Registrar on the day of the post mortem examination and provide a copy to COPFS. There are no delays to death certificates being issued in Aberdeen.

Three forensic pathologists have left positions in Aberdeen in the last five years. One pathologist took up a post with the Home Office in England. Two pathologists transferred to other positions in Scotland where they continue to conduct Crown-instructed examinations.

The Family Liaison Charter sets out the Crown’s obligations in relation to liaising with and providing information to bereaved relatives. These obligations apply equally to deaths arising in any area of Scotland.

If a post mortem examination in relation to a suspicious death requires to be transferred to another area, Police Scotland Family Liaison Officers will engage with the family at an early stage to explain the processes and timescales and keep them updated with the progress of the investigation.

The proposed reforms are intended to increase the quality of applications which are submitted to Scottish Ministers. Doing so, will in turn, allow for faster processing times.

The average time for a post mortem examination to take place in Aberdeen is seven days (or five working days) after the post mortem is instructed. Most post mortems are instructed on the same day that the death is reported to COPFS.

In October 2022, both Forensic Pathologists working in Aberdeen transferred to other positions in Scotland where they continue to conduct Crown-instructed examinations. COPFS took over management of the pathology services in Aberdeen as Aberdeen University were unable to secure replacement pathologists.

From that date, COPFS has relied on the Forensic postmortem services in other areas of Scotland to provide Forensic specialist cover for Aberdeen, Grampian and the Highlands and Islands.

COPFS is not responsible for recruiting Crown-instructed pathologists.

However, COPFS has investigated alternative options for a forensic pathology service in Aberdeen. In the meantime, continuing with the outsourcing agreement and the use of locum NHS pathologists for non-suspicious post mortem examinations maintains service delivery whilst NHS Grampian progress the establishment of a forensic post mortem service in Aberdeen.

Bereaved relatives are routinely advised of the location of the post mortem examination and the reasons for the transfer.

Locum pathologists are engaged on a fixed fee basis per post mortem examination, regardless of where the pathologist requires to travel from. There is therefore no additional cost to the Crown if a locum pathologist requires to fly from elsewhere in the United Kingdom to Aberdeen or requires accommodation.