Digital CT scans to cut invasive post-mortems by up to 80% in Oldham

Post-mortem CT scanning is being rolled out across Oldham, Rochdale and Bury with the aim of reducing the need for invasive autopsies by as much as 80 percent.

How the new service works

The initiative is a joint effort between the Greater Manchester Coroner's Office, the National Health Service, specialist imaging provider Anubix and diagnostic company TIC Health. Pathologists, radiologists and mortuary staff from the Northern Care Alliance will operate the scanners and assess the images. When a scan yields a clear cause of death, the coroner can forgo a conventional dissection, thereby avoiding additional distress for grieving relatives.

Community and professional response

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said the programme addresses a sensitive issue and will help future-proof the coroner's service. He added that many residents in Heywood, Middleton, the Pennines and Rochdale have reported heightened anxiety when invasive examinations are required, making the new approach both timely and welcome.

Senior Coroner Joanne Kearsley welcomed the launch, noting that it now benefits people across the three boroughs. She described the development as an important step toward delivering a high-quality, compassionate coroner service that respects families during the grieving period.

Dr Natasha Davendralingam, founder and chief executive of Anubix, explained that post-mortem CT imaging offers the same clinical standards, dignity and compassion expected in healthcare. She said the technology can often provide the answers a coroner and family need without resorting to an invasive procedure.

Dr Christian Kleanthous, chief executive of TIC Health, highlighted the company's role in supplying the imaging infrastructure and expertise. He stressed that the same rigorous quality, safety and governance applied to living patients will underpin the post-mortem service, giving confidence to both families and coronial teams.