The parents of Raphaël Pryor, a 17-year-old who died after collapsing during a sports game at Eton College, have spoken out about their agonizing 10-month wait for a post-mortem report. They are urging the Health Secretary to address what they describe as a "chronic shortage" of paediatric and perinatal pathologists in the UK.

These specialists are crucial for conducting post-mortem examinations following the unexplained death of a child, providing families with answers about the cause of death and identifying any potential inherited conditions. Raphaël's mother, Sabine Vandenbroucke, stated that no family should experience such a prolonged delay.

"Raphaël was our only child. He was full of life, active and loved by everyone who knew him," she said. "When he died so suddenly, our world stopped. Waiting 10 months for the post-mortem report was agony. How can a healthy boy drop dead just like that? What did we miss? Was there any inherited family condition? Every delay means parents spending another day without knowing why their child died. It means more nights lying awake with the same unanswered questions."

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A nationwide deficit in these specialized medical professionals means bereaved families face significant waits, potentially delaying vital screenings for relatives who might be at risk of genetic conditions. According to a November report by the Royal College of Pathologists, there are only 52 paediatric and perinatal pathology consultants across the UK, with 37 percent of positions vacant.

The report also highlighted that some regions, including Northern Ireland, the Midlands, and the South West of England, have no consultants in this field, forcing families to seek services elsewhere. It found that one in five families waited at least six months for a post-mortem examination after the death of their child or baby.

Raphaël's father, Michael Pryor, emphasized the need for action, stating, "We cannot bring Raphaël back, but we can try to stop other families being left in the same painful uncertainty. The Government has already promised 1,000 new specialty training posts. We are asking for just 37 of them to be used to rebuild this vital service. When a child dies, every day without answers matters. The Health Secretary should not allow more families to be left waiting month after month."

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Dr. Clair Evans of the Royal College of Pathologists described the paediatric and perinatal pathology services as being "in a state of collapse." She noted that the existing pathologists are under significant pressure, leading to stress and burnout, which in turn affects the workforce's ability to meet demand. The college warned that 13 of the current 52 consultants are due to retire within the next five years, with only 13 doctors in training to replace them. They are requesting that the government allocate 37 of its promised new specialty training posts over the next five years specifically to this critical area.

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A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care expressed condolences to Raphaël's parents, acknowledging that any avoidable distress in such heartbreaking circumstances is unacceptable. The department stated that it is creating 4,500 additional training placements as part of an agreement with resident doctors and will prioritize training posts to focus on areas of greatest need.