Bolton will be one of the first places in the country to use “better, faster, more reliable” non-invasive technology to establish people’s causes of death.
This comes after an agreement was signed between Bolton Council and Digital Autopsy UK to use new computer technology to carry out post-mortems.
The post-mortems will be carried out at a new digital suite installed at Royal Bolton Hospital for the whole Manchester West jurisdiction, which includes Bolton, Salford, Wigan and Leigh.
HM Senior Coroner for Manchester West Timothy Brennand said: “I am delighted to be the first coroner in Greater Manchester, and one of the first nationally, to have secured a change in provision of service to allow us to rely on non-invasive technologies.
“I am convinced that this service will offer a better, faster and clinically reliable means for me to obtain the evidence to establish an unequivocal cause of death.”
The digital autopsy technology will allow pathologists to use digital tools, rather than scalpels, to carry out post-mortems.
This could prove crucial to reduce waiting times in the months ahead.
Bolton Council leader Cllr Nick Peel said: "I suspect that most people are not aware that the Coroners office come under the jurisdiction of the council, rather than the courts or the NHS.
"Because of this, we have been in a position to be able to modernise the post-mortem service.”
He added: “Unfortunately, nationally, the number of pathologists is reducing, leading to delays in post mortems being carried out, and the Senior Coroner is concerned that when the winter months arrive there will be an inability to cope with the numbers of deaths requiring a post-mortem.
"By investing in this technology, we will be putting this important service in a much better position to help grieving families through an often-distressing time as well as reducing the long waiting times for funerals to take place, which we have seen rise since the Covid-19 epidemic.”
Experts say that this helps minimise bereaved families’ emotional distress and helps to resolve cases more quickly.
Royal Bolton Hospital pathologist Dr Patrick Waugh said: “This is a great step forward in this region for the deceased and their families.
“This places the families concerns and wishes at the centre of Coronial investigations.
“I hope this joint venture of the Mortuary Services provided by Bolton Foundation Trust and the technology of Digital Autopsy will create a centre of excellence in the Northwest.”
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Bolton Council formally signed the deal with Digital Autopsy UK, which works with other authorities around the country, after a procurement process.
Digital Autopsy UK chief executive Darren Brown said: “Working in partnership is at the heart of what we do and we are delighted to have secured the support of Bolton Council, the Coroner and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to deliver this service.
“Digital Autopsy UK is already a proud partner of 23 local authorities across the country including Sheffield City Council, Lancashire County Council and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and we are pleased to be able to bring this service to Greater Manchester.”
The service is expected to be available from June this year.
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