There were concerns expressed at Tuesday night’s meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council over “substantial delays” in the provision of post mortem services at weekends.

The Council has previously questioned the staffing levels available to provide this service at weekends by the State Pathologist for Northern Ireland.

A number of councillors have claimed to have been approached by constituents who have been “upset at the delays experienced” and the knock on effect this has had on funeral arrangements.

But at Tuesday night’s Council meeting in Omagh Democratic Unionist Keith Elliott suggested the delays could be at hospitals, such as South West Acute Hospital.

Councillor Elliott, who works as an undertaker, claimed there are sometimes issues “trying to pinpoint doctors” to write medical certificates to confirm the cause of deaths.

“That’s where the delay is – it’s with the doctors,” he told the meeting. “This could go on for 24 hours, it’s totally unacceptable.”

He said doctors have a duty of care to the living as well as a duty of care to the families of the deceased.

In a letter to Dr. James Lyness, the state pathologist, Council Chief Executive Brendan Hegarty outlined the issues, saying the delays have “added to the grief and stress experienced by families and loved ones at a particularly difficult and emotional time.”

In response, Dr. Lyness, whose letter to Mr. Hegarty was the subject of discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting, explained that his department and the Northern Ireland Regional Forensic Mortuary operate 365 days a year and provide an on-call Pathologist and Anatomical Pathology Technologist 24 hours each day.

“As part of the service any autopsies that can be completed are carried out during weekends so that the deceased can be returned to the next of kin,” added Dr. Lyness, explaining that there is currently a vacancy for a Consultant Pathologist in his department. Despite this he says he and his colleagues have been supported by Locum Consultant Pathologists to maintain service.

He added: “I am not aware of any significant delays caused by the State Pathologist’s Department during this time.”

“Indeed, post mortems are generally carried out within 24 hours of a Coronial direction for an autopsy being received by my Department. In order for the Coroner to make an informed decision as to whether an autopsy is absolutely necessary, a preliminary investigation is carried out.

“This typically requires information to be gathered by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the availability of the decedent's general practitioner. The process takes time, particularly at weekends, and, in the absence of any specific case examples, may provide an explanation for the delays experienced by your Members’ constituents,” he wrote.

At Tuesday night's meeting, Sinn Fein Councillor Stephen McCann welcomed the response, pointing to the “substantial delays” and added: “We need to find a solution.”

Independent Councillor Josephine Deehan said it was “very heartening” that the state pathologist’s department “recognise that post mortems need to be carried out in a timely fashion.”

“It can cause significant distress,” she said, while Independent Councillor Sorcha McAnespy promised to discuss the issue that Councillor Elliott raised with Western Trust Chief Executive Dr. Anne Kilgannon whom she was due to meet yesterday (Wednesday).