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There are calls for a public inquiry after a health board admitted releasing the wrong bodies to two different families in a hospital mortuary mix-up.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board apologised to a family in December last year after they had to hold a second funeral service after cremating the body of a different person.

The health board has now admitted a similar mix-up has happened again at the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran – despite initially claiming the first was an “isolated incident”.

The latest reported error happened in November last year. The health board said the two incidents were down to the same “human error”.

In a statement apologising, the health board said it was “devastated” for the family involved.

“It is with deep regret that this incident occurred within days prior to a similar incident already reported and was due to the same human error.

“Our initial investigation has just been completed and we are now further investigating the circumstances surrounding this second incident that occurred around the same time in similar circumstances.

“We have taken appropriate action since November within the mortuary setting and have put in place even more safeguards due to this second case. We have also conducted a retrospective audit to ensure that there are no further cases that mirror this incident and we have also asked the Human Tissue Authority to undertake a follow up audit on our systems and processes for further reassurance.

“We have met with the family to fully inform them about this situation and to offer them as much support as they need. We have been informed that there is no known family of the other patient and this is the reason there has been a delay in this case being identified.

“We will keep family members fully updated throughout our continuing investigation.

“We are deeply sorry, and our thoughts and full support remain with the family.”

Caerphilly Observer understands the family are now planning a second funeral as the health board still has the body of their deceased relative.

Public inquiry

Councillor Kevin Etheridge, who represents Blackwood on Caerphilly County Borough Council, and Cllr George Edwards, of Blackwood Town Council, supported the first family of the mix-up in December.

In a joint statement they said: “We are appalled and dismayed to learn this has happened a second time and request a public inquiry as these catastrophic errors are totally unacceptable.”

Senedd Members ask questions

Plaid Cymru’s Peredur Owen Griffiths and the Conservatives’ Natasha Asghar, who both represent South Wales East in the Senedd, said they would be raising the matter with the Welsh Government.

Mr Owen Griffiths said: “This is a deeply worrying occurrence which will do little to reassure public confidence in the competence of the hospital’s morgue.

“I appreciate that procedures have tightened up since the blunders first came to light but there needs to be reassessment of the processes at the mortuary because clearly there were serious and significant errors in the way things were run. This cannot happen again.”

An emergency question in the Senedd is being tabled by Ms Asghar this week.

She said: “It is utterly shocking that the wrong body has been released to a family not once but twice, and my thoughts are with all those affected.

“Since learning of this second appalling incident, I have written to the health board’s CEO demanding answers and have lodged an emergency question in the Welsh Parliament.

“No family should have to go through this, and the health board has some serious questions to answer.

“How can we expect people to have faith and confidence in our health board when distressing incidents like these occur.

“An inquiry must be launched to get to the bottom of this and ensure it never happens again.”