Urgent action needed to avoid crisis in hospital in neighbouring county, says Tipperary TD
Deputy Mattie McGrath has issued a statement
Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath has today issued an urgent appeal for the recruitment of additional consultant pathologists and locum pathologists where necessary, to safeguard the continuation of coroner-requested post-mortem services at University Hospital Waterford from January 2026.
Deputy McGrath expressed deep concern that consultant pathologists at UHW will no longer be able to carry out autopsies requested by coroners due to unsustainable workloads and persistent recruitment challenges.
“Having engaged with Tipperary Coroner, Joe Kelly who is President of the Coroner’s Society of Ireland, It is my understanding that locum pathologists are being used in other areas to assist with the workload,” said Deputy McGrath.
“However, this does not appear to be the case in University Hospital Waterford, and that disparity is deeply troubling. The South East must not be left behind.”
While the HSE has confirmed it will continue to provide mortuary facilities and support staff, the responsibility for coroner services rests with the Department of Justice.
Deputy McGrath is calling on the Department to act immediately: “The Department of Justice must intervene without delay to ensure that UHW is not left without the capacity to deliver this essential service. Locum pathologists must be deployed where permanent recruitment has failed. This is a matter of justice, compassion, and public trust.”
University Hospital Waterford has long served as a vital centre for post-mortem examinations in the region carrying out approximately 700 post-mortems annually. Without swift action, cases may be diverted to other hospitals, causing delays and distress for families and placing further strain on the national system.
“Families already frequently reach out to me, deeply distressed by delays in securing post-mortems for their loved ones during busy periods. I am acutely aware of the emotional toll this takes. To allow such delays to become the norm would represent a profound failure of the state in its duty to support grieving families with dignity and urgency.
“I am calling on both the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Health to work together to resolve this issue. We need a coordinated, equitable response. The people of the South East deserve the same level of service and support as every other region,” concluded McGrath