The halving of pathology services for post-mortem examinations in the south east is delaying funerals and making grief even more difficult for families, a priest has warned. Since January 2, pathology services for coroner-directed post-mortem examinations are being provided three days a week by locum pathologists who travel from the UK. The new system replaces the seven-day service provided until January 1 by pathologists based at University Hospital Waterford. The move was feared to result in lengthy funeral delays, with up to 700 coroner-directed post-mortem examinations held yearly at the hospital. Hospitals are withdrawing from the provision of coronial post-mortem examinations.

Source: Irish Examiner January 28, 2026 16:24 UTC