It is a delicate subject often avoided in conversations. And despite a well-functioning body donor programme, a new report has now found there is a ‘serious problem’ in sourcing cadavers for students to practice on at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd).
Professor Gordon Findlater, HM Inspector of Anatomy for Scotland, has informed Scottish ministers in his annual report that an increase in demand for courses, coupled with the government’s strict intake targets, is putting a strain on the number of bodies available for dissection.
Between April 1, 2025 and March 31 this year only 308 bodies – nine fewer than the previous year – were accepted by anatomy departments in comparison to the estimated 6,761 medical students currently enrolled at Scottish universities.
Among those inspected were the universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
But referring to the RCSEd, he said: ‘Due to the increased demand for courses to be run at the College, there is now a serious problem of sourcing cadaver material to meet this demand.
‘This situation is not helped by the need of the five medical schools in Scotland having to meet the increased need for cadavers required to teach the increasing number of medical students they now have to accept.’
Professor Gordon Findlater pointed to increased demand for courses as a reason for shortages in his report
The Scottish Government previously increased the annual intake of medical places in Scottish universities from 848 to 1,417, a target that remains in place for the next academic year.
Joe Payne, chairman of the British Medical Association’s Scottish Medical Student Committee, however, said that a ‘72 per cent’ rise in the number of medical students ‘from 3,928 to 6,761’ since 2015 was ‘actively undermining confidence, retention and long-term sustainability’.
Professor Findlater acknowledged that the body donor programme was ‘working well’ with the requirements for the country’s five medical schools and two surgical college’s ‘largely being met’.
But he conceded that ‘more donations would allow more to be done both in education and research’.
Dr Amanda Hunter, Head of Delivery (Education and Examinations) at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said she welcomed the report and the ‘opportunity it provides to recognise the extraordinary generosity of those who choose to donate their bodies to medical science’.
She said: ‘These donations make an invaluable contribution to the education and training of surgeons, providing opportunities to develop and refine skills that ultimately support safer patient care.
‘As demand for cadaveric education and surgical training continues to grow, ensuring access to donated material is increasingly important.
‘RCSEd is committed to working closely with Scotland’s anatomy departments to support this vital area of education, while ensuring that every donation entrusted to us is treated with the greatest dignity, care and respect.’
A spokesman for the University of Aberdeen said it recognised the ‘national pressures’ highlighted in the latest report, and while it had not been directly affected by a lack of cadavers, stressed that ‘ongoing body donation’ was ‘vital to ensure Scotland’s medical schools can continue to deliver high quality teaching and training’.
The Scottish Government said it was ‘grateful to those who choose to donate their bodies to support medical education and research’.
A spokesman added: ‘Availability is dependent on voluntary body donation and the number of bequests received by anatomy departments at any given time.
‘Scotland’s anatomy departments already work closely together to help manage demand and make the best use of available resources. We will continue to engage with the inspector, universities and other stakeholders on the issues identified in the report.’
