Key Takeaways
- The NHS is facing a severe shortage of paediatric and perinatal pathologists, leading to significant delays in postmortem results for bereaved families.
- The Royal College of Pathologists reports that 37% of consultant posts in the UK are vacant, and only 13 resident doctors are in training to become consultants in the specialty.
- The shortage is causing unacceptable delays, with one in five families waiting six months or more, and some longer than 12 months, to find out why their child died.
- The situation is having a significant and distressing effect on families, who are left in limbo, waiting for answers and vital information to plan their futures.
Introduction to the Shortage
The National Health Service (NHS) is facing a severe shortage of specialist doctors, specifically paediatric and perinatal pathologists, who perform postmortems on babies and children. This shortage is causing significant delays in providing postmortem results to bereaved families, leaving them in a state of uncertainty and distress. According to a report by the Royal College of Pathologists, the situation is "dire," and services in some parts of the UK have "totally collapsed." The report highlights the need for urgent action to address the shortage and prevent further distress to families.
The Impact on Bereaved Families
The shortage of paediatric and perinatal pathologists is having a devastating impact on bereaved families, who are already going through a traumatic experience. The delays in postmortem results are causing significant distress, with many families waiting for months, and in some cases, over a year, to find out why their child died. For example, a couple from Carmarthenshire was still waiting to hear why their three-year-old son had died unexpectedly 13 months earlier. The report notes that postmortems can help parents in the process of closure and provide vital information that aids treatment in subsequent pregnancies. However, the current delays are denying families this closure and information, leaving them in a state of limbo.
The Extent of the Shortage
The Royal College of Pathologists’ report reveals the extent of the shortage, with 37% of consultant posts in the UK lying vacant. The UK has just 52 paediatric and perinatal consultants, and 13 are due to retire in the next five years. Furthermore, only 3% of consultants think current staffing levels are enough to sustain their service, and only 13 resident doctors are in training to become consultants in the specialty. This shortage is not only affecting postmortem services but also the diagnosis and treatment of sick children, including conditions that lead to other relatives being screened.
The Response from Ministers and NHS Bosses
Ministers and NHS bosses have acknowledged the shortage and its impact on bereaved families. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said that any avoidable distress to families in this heartbreaking position is unacceptable. The spokesperson noted that there are a record number of doctors across almost every specialty in the NHS, including pathology, and the 10-year health plan commits to the creation of 1,000 new specialty training posts, with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. However, critics argue that more needs to be done to address the shortage, particularly in paediatric and perinatal pathology.
The Need for Urgent Action
The shortage of paediatric and perinatal pathologists requires urgent action to prevent further distress to bereaved families. The Royal College of Pathologists and charities, such as Sands, are calling for ministers and NHS bosses to do more to address the shortage. This includes increasing the number of training posts, providing more support for existing consultants, and improving the working conditions and resources available to pathologists. The report’s findings add to the growing evidence that workforce shortages are causing unacceptable and heartbreaking delays for bereaved parents in getting postmortem results. It is essential that urgent action is taken to close the agonizing gap between a baby dying and parents finding out why it happened.