Grieving families who have been left waiting for the return of their loved ones' bodies because of delays in completing coronial autopsies want a trial that would see some examinations done in Wagga.
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Cootamundra mother Gloria Schultz and Gundagai's Jill Jones now hope to take their concerns straight to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Mrs Schultz and her family had to wait more than two weeks for her son Dean's body to be returned from the Department of Forensic Medicine at Newcastle after his death two years ago.
But for the Schultz family, the delays began before Dean's body was even taken to Newcastle to undergo an autopsy.
The family had to wait hours for a Wagga-based funeral director to become available to collect Dean's body. The Cootamundra funeral director was not a designated government contractor and, therefore, could not handle the task.
Police were also required to remain on the scene during that period.
"In our case, I made the discovery about 5.15pm, but the funeral directors didn't get there until nearly midnight," Mrs Schultz said.
"The two police officers were from another town and were worried that they were away from their station for so long.
"There is just so much waiting for families."
Reported delays in the coronial autopsy process have followed a consolidation of the NSW Forensic Health Pathology services in 2016, with Wagga-based cases requiring a forensic autopsy now being sent to Newcastle.
A number of reasons, including an international shortage of forensic pathology specialists, have previously being cited for the move, and as a reason behind delays of up to six weeks.
There is just so much waiting for families.
- Gloria Schultz
Mrs Schultz and Mrs Jones, who lost her son Mark in a crash, would like to see autopsies that are considered more straightforward conducted at hospitals like Wagga Base, which would reduce the workload at Newcastle, where the more complicated cases would still be sent.
The two mothers have had discussions with Wagga MP Joe McGirr, who has met with the Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard, and senior health officials to look at ways to reduce what he described as a "harrowing" backlog.
"Last week's meeting was one of the most encouraging I've had to date. The minister said he would look into legislative changes that could decrease the number of bodies requiring full coronial autopsies in Newcastle," he said.
