‘Awful’ - Waterford people in mourning may be forced to work before funerals of loved ones

Waterford people in mourning could be forced to return to work before the funerals of their loved-ones, the Dáil has heard.

It comes as consultant pathologists are set to withdraw from carrying out coroner-requested post-mortems at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) from next year.

Post-mortem examinations are required in cases where a death may be suspicious, accidental, or unexpected, as well as in cases of maternal deaths.

Around 700 such autopsies, requested by coroners across the southeast, are carried out in the morgue at the hospital each year.

The Coroners Society of Ireland have said that the ceasing of these services will cause distress and anguish for families who could face lengthy funeral delays.

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The issue was raised by Sinn Féin Dublin Fingal West TD Louise O'Reilly, who shared the personal experience of her mother passing away recently.

Deputy O’Reilly said: “If we take the civil and public service as having the best bereavement leave entitlement, we find that a person is entitled to five days leave on the loss of a mother or father.

“I had that experience recently when my mam died. She died on a Wednesday. She was not cremated until the following Wednesday, which, to put it in bald terms, would have put anyone with only five days' bereavement leave in a situation whereby they would have to go back to work.”

Deputy O’Reilly said that she was not pleading for additional leave days because she didn’t think that was the solution.

She noted how traditionally in Ireland, there is a short time period between deaths and funerals. As a result, she warned of “a particular impact” if coroner services at UHW are cut.

The Sinn Féin TD continued: “I was thinking about it and talking to members of my family. I could not have gone back to work; it would just not have been possible.

“I am very lucky, but there are an awful lot of people who are not,” she added.

In response to Deputy O’Reilly, Minister of State Niall Collins expressed his sympathy on the death of her mother.

He explained how the Department of Justice cannot interfere with a coroner in the exercise of their statutory function to investigate deaths.

However, he admitted that the provision of post-mortem examination services nationwide is “a significant area of concern at present”.

Minister Collins went on to explain the situation at UHW, saying: “In late 2024, University Hospital Waterford advised the Department of Justice that it intends to withdraw its autopsy service for all coroner-directed autopsies from January 1, 2026.

“It is understood that there are nine sanctioned posts in UHW for pathologists, however only six are filled. The team at UHW has advised the Department of challenges in filling the remaining three posts.

“Of the six filled posts, three of the consultants are understood to have decided not to conduct autopsies, meaning that only three consultants are available to conduct in the region of 700 autopsies per year,” he added.

Minister Collins said that the Department of Justice is “ready to assist” in finding a solution to the issue.

He added that his department continues to engage with the Department of Health in order to assist in improving the delivery of post-mortem examinations nationwide.