HM Inspector of Anatomy for Scotland: annual report 2023-2024

General Points

Statistics Summary:

116. These are cumulative figures for all anatomy departments:

• Bequest Forms requested: 1113 (1055)*
• Bequest Forms returned: 692 (632)*
• Bodies accepted: 290 (281)*
• Bodies rejected: 178 (190)*
• Bodies redirected to another department: 24 (31)
• Number of embalmed bodies currently held: 352 (338)*
• Number of frozen bodies in storage: 123 (122)*
• Number of Licensed Teachers, Academic: 21 (15)*
• Number of Licensed Teachers, Technical: 19 (9)*

* Figures in brackets are from 2022-23 Annual Report

Use of Bodies other than for the Teaching of Medical Students:

117. It is invariably the case that when someone leaves their body to the medical school, the assumption is made that is for the teaching of anatomy to undergraduate medical students. However, what is not always appreciated is the use made of donated bodies for the advancement of medical science and surgical training. Without exception, every Scottish medical school makes donated bodies available to surgeons in training and to research scientists enabling pioneering research to take place in Scotland.

118. The appendix shows a list of courses run and research currently being

carried out using donated bodies.

Memorial Services:

119. All medical schools hold an annual Memorial Service in memory of all those who have left their bodies to the medical school; the Inspector attended all of these in person. All were very well attended and very much appreciated particularly by the families and friends of all the donors.

Code of Practice:

120. The revised version of the Code of Practice is now in its final form after having been passed out to all Heads of Departments for comment.

Induction Course for Those Wishing to Apply for a Licence:

121. This is currently on hold at the moment.

Incidents Requiring Investigation:

122. There were no incidents requiring the intervention of the Inspector.

Other Activities:

123. These included:

• reviewing licence applications, both personal and premises, before issuing them. In the case of the latter, it invariably means visiting the premises in question to make sure that it conforms to the requirements of the Act and the Code of Practice.
• responding on a day-to-day basis to email and telephone enquiries both from licensed teachers and members of the public on a wide and varied range of anatomically related topics.