A family in South Wales has endured the trauma of two funerals after a hospital mix-up led to the wrong body being cremated. The relatives gathered at Sirhowy Valley Crematorium in Blackwood three weeks ago, only to discover that the body they received belonged to a different person, who is believed to have no surviving loved ones.
The error was identified by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which runs The Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran. The health board alerted the family, forcing them to hold a second funeral for their loved one. Chief executive Nicola Prygodzicz described staff as 'utterly heartbroken' by the mistake.
Ms Prygodzicz said: 'We are utterly heartbroken about what has happened to the family and we take responsibility for this isolated incident. Words cannot express how sorry we are.' She added that the health board discovered the error through its own processes and believes it was due to an isolated human error.
The £350 million hospital, which opened three years ago, was intended to be a flagship for the Labour-run NHS in Wales but has faced ongoing problems. The health board has launched an investigation and is offering support to the affected family.
The crematorium, operated by Westerleigh Group, declined to comment, citing the family's right to privacy. The health board confirmed that no known family exists for the other patient involved.
