Royal Bolton Hospital opens digital autopsy suite

  • 15 January 2025
Royal Bolton Hospital opens digital autopsy suite
The opening of the digital autopsy suite at Royal Bolton Hospital (Credit: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust)
  • Royal Bolton Hospital has become the first location in Greater Manchester to carry out digital autopsies that reduce the need for invasive post-mortems and releases bodies back to families and loved ones sooner
  • The first patient came through the facility in August 2024 before being opened officially by Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, on 9 January 2025
  • The CT scanning suite from Digital Autopsy UK allows organs and tissues to be assessed using radiology, which can highlight causes of death for the deceased without the need for invasive procedures

Royal Bolton Hospital has become the first location in Greater Manchester to carry out digital autopsies that reduce the need for invasive post-mortems and releases bodies back to families and loved ones sooner.

The CT scanning suite from Digital Autopsy UK allows organs and tissues to be assessed using radiology, which can highlight causes of death for the deceased without the need for invasive procedures.

Reports are then viewed by pathologists to assess if a cause of death can be determined without the need for invasive assessments with a scalpel.

Fiona Noden, chief executive at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and place based lead for Bolton, said: “Introducing this scanner minimises distress and provides greater dignity by making the investigation less invasive, and helps to reduces the time it takes to determine the cause of death, meaning we’re able to release the body to their loved ones sooner.

“This new technology also better supports those with faith considerations by allowing for the timely burial of a loved one and reducing the need for physical interventions.”

The digital autopsy suite at Royal Bolton Hospital will assist the coroner in establishing causes of death across the Manchester West jurisdiction.

Bolton Council, as the lead local authority with responsibility for the provision of coronial services in the Manchester West jurisdiction, signed an agreement with Digital Autopsy UK to provide non-invasive post-mortem examinations to the communities of Bolton, Salford, Wigan and Leigh.

The first patient came through the facility in August 2024, but was officially opened by Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester and co-chair of the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, on 9 January 2025.

Digital autopsies aim to reduce traditional invasive post-mortems, in which a pathologist would use specialist tools to investigate a cause of death, by three quarters (75%).

Darren Brown, chief executive at Digital Autopsy UK, said: “Working in partnership is at the heart of what we do, and we are delighted to formally open this service in collaboration with Bolton Council, the Coroner, and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

“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 bring this innovative service to Greater Manchester.

“We know that the death of a loved one is an extremely distressing time for families, and we are proud that our service helps to provide answers swiftly and effectively.”

Meanwhile, in August 2024, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust deployed a new patient flow system from Alcidion with the aim of boosting bed availability at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

The trust went live with Miya Flow at the end of May 2024 in an effort to improve transparency and efficiency around the intake, treatment and discharge of patients.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Sign up

Related News

NHS national image-sharing platform hits ‘record usage’

NHS national image-sharing platform hits ‘record usage’

The Image Exchange Portal (IEP) is now being used to share as many as 500 images per second, according to technology supplier Sectra.
Royal Bolton Hospital deploys Miya patient flow system

Royal Bolton Hospital deploys Miya patient flow system

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has deployed a new patient flow system from Alcidion to boost bed availability at Royal Bolton Hospital.
UK ranks lowest internationally for number of scanners per million

UK ranks lowest internationally for number of scanners per million

The UK continues to have lowest number of MRI units, CT and PET scanners per million population amongst comparator countries, government statistics reveal.

Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.