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| Concern over missing organ case | Concern over missing organ case |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Concerns have been raised that the case of a family who had to wait two years for the return of a relative's brain after it was removed may not be unique. | Concerns have been raised that the case of a family who had to wait two years for the return of a relative's brain after it was removed may not be unique. |
| After Richard Hughes from Pembrokeshire died in 2007 his family discovered his brain had been taken out in a post-mortem examination and not put back. | |
| Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative health spokesman, said he suspected there may be other cases. | |
| The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) said it was investigating the case. | The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) said it was investigating the case. |
| The family of Mr Hughes, who was 48, are demanding answers after they discovered his brain was removed and retained by the University Hospital of Wales (UHW), Cardiff. | |
| Because of the time it took to get permission to exhume Mr Hughes' remains, the burial of his brain with his body was only completed last week. | Because of the time it took to get permission to exhume Mr Hughes' remains, the burial of his brain with his body was only completed last week. |
| The Pembrokeshire coroner said there was a lack of communication with the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. | The Pembrokeshire coroner said there was a lack of communication with the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. |
| Mr Davies said the situation would not have helped the family's the grieving process. | Mr Davies said the situation would not have helped the family's the grieving process. |
| I hope it is not systematic of a wider example that's going on but I do suspect that there could be other cases out there Andrew RT Davies AM, Conservative health spokesman | |
| "The flow of information to keep the family in the circle, as it were [when there's an inquest], so that they can understand what is happening and they can go on with their lives, is of critical importance. | "The flow of information to keep the family in the circle, as it were [when there's an inquest], so that they can understand what is happening and they can go on with their lives, is of critical importance. |
| "And in this particular case that seems to have fallen down," he said. | "And in this particular case that seems to have fallen down," he said. |
| "I hope it is not systematic of a wider example that's going on but I do suspect that there could be other cases out there." | "I hope it is not systematic of a wider example that's going on but I do suspect that there could be other cases out there." |
| An inquest in April 2008 into Mr Hughes' death heard he had been drinking and had fallen from a wall on his way home from a night out in Fishguard. | An inquest in April 2008 into Mr Hughes' death heard he had been drinking and had fallen from a wall on his way home from a night out in Fishguard. |
| His family, from Goodwick, were not happy with the investigation into his death and asked for a pathology report. | His family, from Goodwick, were not happy with the investigation into his death and asked for a pathology report. |
| Reading through the report they discovered Mr Hughes' brain was examined weeks after his funeral had taken place. | Reading through the report they discovered Mr Hughes' brain was examined weeks after his funeral had taken place. |
| Richard Hughes died after falling from a wall after a night out | Richard Hughes died after falling from a wall after a night out |
| Pembrokeshire coroner Michael Howells said he paid for the casket and burial fee for Mr Hughes' brain. | |
| He added that he wrote a long letter to the family in January this year but would give no details. | He added that he wrote a long letter to the family in January this year but would give no details. |
| Post mortem examinations at UHW, which is Wales' largest hospital, were suspended last week after HTA inspectors found problems in procedures, facilities and equipment. | Post mortem examinations at UHW, which is Wales' largest hospital, were suspended last week after HTA inspectors found problems in procedures, facilities and equipment. |
| It has since issued a proposal to revoke the hospital's licence to store bodies. | It has since issued a proposal to revoke the hospital's licence to store bodies. |
| The HTA has not confirmed the two events are connected. | The HTA has not confirmed the two events are connected. |
| In a statement Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said: "As the Pembrokeshire coroner has stated there was inadequate communication between his office and the pathology dept of UHW and the trust adds its regrets to those of the coroner's." | |
| Dr Sandy Mather from HTA said it had worked with all parties to locate the brain within 48 hours once they had been made aware of the mistake. | Dr Sandy Mather from HTA said it had worked with all parties to locate the brain within 48 hours once they had been made aware of the mistake. |
| "We provided the family with appropriate contacts to arrange suitable internment," she said. | "We provided the family with appropriate contacts to arrange suitable internment," she said. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government said it understood the HTA and relevant organisations had investigated the circumstances and had taken action to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the futur | The Welsh Assembly Government said it understood the HTA and relevant organisations had investigated the circumstances and had taken action to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the futur |
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