Royal Bolton Hospital has implemented digital imaging for post mortem analysis, with the aim to reduce the need for invasive post mortems and release bodies to families sooner.
In partnership with Digital Autopsy UK and Manchester West Coronial Service, the CT scanning suite allows organs and tissues to be assessed using radiology, to potentially highlight the cause of death without the need for invasive procedures. Pathologists then review the digital reports and determine if any further assessments are needed.
Royal Bolton NHS FT noted how the use of this technology will “reduce traditional invasive post mortems,” in which specialist tools are used to investigate cause of death, “by three quarters”. Now post mortems can be carried out in a “computerised environment” rather than by scalpel, with reports completed “within a matters of hours instead of days”.
When discussing the impact of using digital imaging for post mortem examination, HM senior coroner for Manchester West, Timothy Brennand, commented: “The coroner’s jurisdiction of Manchester West deals with 3-4,000 reported deaths annually. In about half of these cases, the cause of death is either unknown or uncertain, requiring the need for a postmortem examination of the deceased. This initiative future proofs the ability of the jurisdiction to secure a rapid, definitive cause of death. But this initiative also removes the anguish and anxiety that some families experience at the thought of their loved one requiring an invasive procedure at the direction of a coroner.”
The facility, which was officially opened on 9 January 2025, will support those living in Bolton, Wigan and Salford.
Related healthcare news for the Greater Manchester region
In other news at Royal Bolton Hospital, earlier this month their Neonatal Unit launched a new app designed to keep parents updated and involved in their baby’s care. vCreate allows parents and families to view video and photo updates and ask questions related to their baby, even when they’re unable to be on the unit.
Last month, Health Innovation Manchester announced that over 60 Well Pharmacy sites plan to have access to the region’s shared care record, to support a reduction in telephone calls to primary care. This will allow them to view health and social care data, including “medication history, blood pressure records, lifestyle notes, and immunisation details to support flu and COVID-19 immunisation services”.
A partnership between Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, Greater Manchester Imaging Network and health technology firm Annalise.ai, recently saw the introduction of an AI-powered X-ray system across seven trusts in the region. This AI technology is said to support the detecting and diagnosing of diseases such as lung cancer, in a community “where lung cancer rates sit at 24% above the national average”.
