AQW 9729/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 17087/17-22, (i) for an update to the figures provided for (a) 2022-23; and (b) 2023-24; and (ii) how many parents have chosen not to consent to paediatric pathology and post-mortem services in the same period.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 9 April 2024
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 9 April 2024
- Answer due by
- 24 April 2024
- Answered
- 23 April 202414 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The number of hospitals consented post mortems are as follows:
| Year | Number of Post Mortems |
| 2022 | 199 |
| 2023 | 202 |
| 2024 (January-March) | 41 |
The number of coronial post mortems are as follows:
| Year | Number of Post Mortems |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 (January-March) | 7 |
In line with our pathway, all parents are currently afforded the opportunity to avail of a post mortem who experience a pregnancy loss from 12 weeks gestation. Whilst we can provide the number of post-mortems undertaken, it is only possible to provide the total number of parents who did not avail of this option from 20 weeks gestation as this data is collected to support the Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK (MBRRACE-UK) perinatal mortality surveillance programme.
Maternity information is collected on the Northern Ireland Maternity System (NIMATS) at booking, however pathways for pregnancy loss also include gynaecology services which use NIMATS. As such it is not possible to demonstrate if all parents experiencing loss less than 20 weeks were offered a post mortem.