No more autopsies in Waterford means families could have long waits for funerals

Fine Gael TD for Tipperary-South Micheal Murphy has said that he feels “deep concern” at the impending cessation of coroner-requested autopsies in University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

He said: “This development will have devastating human consequences for families in the South-East.” 

Speaking today Sinn Féin spokesperson for health, Deputy David Cullinane said: “This is an extremely serious situation. It means that from January 2026, families in Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny and Tipperary could face indefinite delays in burying their loved ones because the Government will have failed to ensure adequate staffing and support for essential pathology services.” 

Coroner-requested autopsies usually occur when the deceased died under suspicious or unexpected circumstances. This can range from concern about the deceased person’s medical care or if it is a maternal or infant death.

Deputy Murphy pointed out that, “sudden and unexpected deaths are often tragic”.

 UHW is responsible for post-mortem autopsies for Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary and Kilkenny.

Up to 700 coroner-requested autopsies are conducted each year in Waterford.

Deputy Murphy said: “Behind every post-mortem is a family in shock. These are not numbers. These are grieving mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. It is utterly unacceptable.” 

When the service ends on January 1, 2026, there are concerns that grieving families will have long waits for the body to be returned to them for the funeral.

In a letter to Deputy Murphy, Ben O’Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of UHW said: “The reasons for the cessation are diverse and complex.”

Deputy O’Sullivan said that there is a global shortage of appropriately qualified pathologists.

UHW notified the Department of Justice that a number of pathologists would be willing to stay on in the new year for training and teaching purposes, but “there has been no further engagement or progress on the issue.”

O’Sullivan noted that “the responsibility for the provision of Coroner services lies with the Department of Justice, not the HSE.” 

Deputy Murphy told the Waterford News & Star that he is: “Calling on the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice to act urgently and jointly to secure the provision of this service in the UHW.” 

He added that “families in the South-East deserve no less”.

Deputy Cullinane said: “This crisis has been known to both the HSE and the Department of Justice for more than a year, yet no action plan has been developed or published.” 

 He said: “I am calling on the Ministers for Health and Justice to immediately intervene and to ensure everything possible is done to ensure UHW and the South-East will not be left without a functioning coroner service.”