According to the research, inadequate storage facilities and a shortage of freezer space resulted in some deceased bodies being kept at improper temperatures for too long.
Inspectors from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) have cautioned that NHS trusts are not always following the requirements for storing bodies.
According to official HTA guidelines, bodies should be put into frozen storage after 30 days in refrigerators, or earlier depending on the body’s condition.
The HTA noted that these guidelines were not always enforced due to a lack of resources.
In one specific occurrence, at Leeds General Infirmary last year, the HTA stated: “The inspection team observed a corpse that in storage for 70 days.