Pembrokeshire undertakers fear funerals will be delayed as post-mortem services are moved from Withybush Hospital to Carmarthen.

Following the loss of the consultant pathologist, Hywel Dda Health Board has moved the service to Carmarthen but undertakers are concerned delays will cause problems for families at an already difficult time.

Histopathology services requiring a consultant have also been moved to Carmarthen on patient safety grounds.

Undertakers were notified by letter on Friday (November 12th) that services would be removed from Monday (November 15th).

The letter states: “We would advise that funeral arrangements should not be made in advance of receipt of the appropriate release for disposal documentation issued by the Coroner or Registrars Office.”

The letter also says that coroner's post-mortems will be carried out at Glangwilli Hospital by Withybush mortuary staff.

Roy Folland of Folland & Son Funeral Directors in Haverfordwest said: “It is bound to cause a delay because of the number of post-mortems to be carried out, it is covering quite a big area.

“I fail to see that there will not be a hold up, especially with having to move the bodies up there, it’s going to be difficult for families.”

He added that not knowing when a post-mortem will be carried out will hold-up arrangements and he would not be able to get any update on the situation from the hospital.

Shane Morgan of Milford Haven undertakers Tom Newing & Sons added: “There was no consultation, it has come as a shock for everybody.

“All I hope is that it is not going to cause families more distress than what they are already going through.

“I think it is going to delay funerals for families and they don’t need that. At the moment mortuary staff at Withybush are absolutely brilliant.”

Glyn Thomas of Glyn Thomas and Sons, Freystrop added: “I would definitely say there will be delays. To me it’s a stupid idea all together but I don’t make the rules.”

He said that previously if he was called to collect a sudden death he would take the body to hospital and it would be likely that a post-mortem would be carried out in the next two days and then he could collect the body for a funeral.

“Now the body goes to hospital or my chapel of rest and the contractor at the hospital will take the body to Glangwilli and its up to them when they do the PM and I’ve got to wait for the body to come back.

“It could be a week, it could be a fortnight and I can’t make arrangements for the family until it is released and they are going to be in distress.”

Dennis Rees of FG Rees & Son said: “We are not very happy about it because its taking services away from Withybush, which seems to be ridiculous seeing as Withybush has been storing bodies for Glangwilli because they haven’t got the facilities there.”

His son, Andrew, who now runs the business based in Portfield Gate, added: “I think its going to cause delay and obviously because of that it's going to cause unnecessary stress to families.

“Nobody likes to think that their departed is going to be travelling all those miles.

“Our job is to help families at a time of their need to try and make things as best as you can. They are obviously going to be upset at losing someone but to add this as well, its unnecessary.”

Fishguard funeral director Paul Jenkins only received the letter from Hywel Dda on Monday.

The Paul Jenkins & Son proprietor said: “They are assuring us that there should not be any delays, we will see how it goes, it would be a pity to lose it.”

A Health Board spokesman said to ensure a safe service for patients work will be carried out at West Wales General and the situation will be reviewed if a replacement consultant is found. Interviews for the post are due to take place next month.

Hywel Dda Health Board’s Medical Director Dr Simon Mahon said: “We must make this change to histopathology services as not to take action could lead to diagnostic errors and potentially put patient lives in danger.

“To protect the safety of our patients, the Health Board plans to transfer the single-handed temporary locum consultant at Withybush General Hospital to West Wales General Hospital from Monday November 15th. Patients will not see any change in service, but can be reassured that their samples are being assessed in the best and safest manner.”

Pembrokeshire post-mortems will be carried out in Carmarthen where the consultants will be based.

The facility for dignified storage and viewing of bodies at Withybush will be retained, so that grieving families can continue to visit their deceased loved ones at the Haverfordwest hospital.

Pembrokeshire oroner Mark Layton said he would work hard to ensure as little impact as possible.

"I am going to ensure that this county does not bear any delay in terms of post -mortems being performed," he said.