Full Breakdown
Security Lapses Exposed at Worthing Hospital Mortuary
By Drooid · · How we work
Inspection Findings at Worthing Hospital
During a heat-wave inspection on July 7 and July 8, Human Tissue Authority (HTA) inspectors observed a mortuary fire-exit door propped open, creating an unobstructed line of sight from a publicly accessible footpath to the body store. A second entrance used by funeral directors was also left substantially open after a release, allowing further visibility. CCTV covering the fire-exit door was found to be non-operational. The HTA report identified 10 major and six minor shortfalls in compliance with its standards at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Worthing hub mortuary and satellite sites at Royal Sussex County Hospital (Brighton), Princess Royal (Haywards Heath) and St Richard’s (Chichester).
Background and Regulatory Context
The inspection followed NHS England’s directive, issued less than three weeks earlier, that every trust review mortuary security, CCTV, estates and staffing after “shocking” findings at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. The HTA’s mandate includes ensuring that identification procedures are consistently applied and that mortuary access is strictly controlled, a response to the earlier David Fuller scandal in which at least 100 deceased women and girls were abused in southeast-England hospital mortuaries.
Data and Shortfalls
- Identification lapses: The HTA found that three identifiers were not routinely checked against families’ details before viewings, creating a risk that bereaved relatives could be shown the wrong body.
- Training gaps: Records did not confirm whether bereavement staff conducting viewings had been assessed as competent.
- Near-miss reporting: Staff disclosed a near-miss incident involving body identification, but the event was not reported to the HTA.
Implications for Mortuary Security
The findings highlight systemic vulnerabilities in mortuary access control, especially during extreme heat when doors are propped for ventilation. Unoperational CCTV and inconsistent identification checks increase the risk of privacy breaches and emotional distress for families. The trust’s pledged improvements aim to align mortuary practices with HTA standards, but ongoing monitoring will be essential to ensure that security, privacy and dignity are consistently upheld across all sites.
