Alan Reid, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute, welcomed the rapid climbdown by NHS Highland from their plan to charge bereaved families for storing the remains of their loved ones at Lorn & the Isles Hospital in Oban and Dunaros on Mull.

As soon as Mr Reid became aware of the plans he wrote to NHS Highland Chief Executive Dr Roger Gibbins, urging the Board not to proceed with the charges. The next day, NHS Highland issued a press statement saying that they would look at the issue again.Alan Reid MP: Argyll & Bute

Mr Reid said,

“These charges would be a severe blow to families mourning the loss of a loved one. I am pleased that the Health Board promised so quickly to look again at these charges. I hope that they will confirm soon that they will not be going ahead with them. If they had got away with introducing them in Oban and Mull, I am sure that they would have quickly introduced them at other hospitals in Argyll & Bute.”

Notes:

TEXT OF LETTER SENT BY NHS HIGHLAND TO UNDERTAKERS DATED 20 AUGUST 2009

“For some years, hospitals in Argyll and Bute have been out of line with those throughout the rest of Scotland in not covering the costs of our mortuary facilities by charging far their use. Following a review of our practice therefore it has been determined that we will bring our service into line with others. I therefore write to advise that from 1st October 2009, the following charges will be introduced for mortuaries in Lorn and Islands Hospital, Oban and Dunaros Hospital on Mull.

Storage of remains at 4C per 24 hours or part thereof up to 7 days £18.00
beyond 7 days, per week or part thereof £50.00

Call out to admit remains Monday to Saturday £45.00

Call out to admit remains Sunday and public holidays £60.00

Viewing of stored remains Monday to Friday 8.00am - 5.00pm £18.00

Viewing of stored remains out of hours call-out Monday to Saturday £20.00 per hour, Sunday and public holidays - £30.00 per hour

These charges are to be made to the funeral directors and not to the families. It is obviously your decision whether to pass on or absorb these charges. If you determine to pass the charges on, as we would expect, we would expect you to make families aware of the costs before arranging any of these services.

In order that you may be enabled to incorporate appropriate charges into your accounts we will forward to you a schedule of costs within 24 hours of the release of each body. A formal invoice will be forwarded subsequently for payment within 30 days.

I trust these arrangements are clear. Should you have any queries, please contact Bruce Emslie in the finance department at Lorn and Islands Hospital.

NHS HIGHLAND PRESS STATEMENT DATED 8 SEPTEMBER 2009

"As with any public service organisation Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership has to provide the best value for the public purse and at the same time continue to deliver front line health services for our local communities. This proposed initiative was part of these endeavours, however as a result of some of the concerns that have been raised locally we have decided to look at the issue again."