GRIEVING families will have some of the pain reduced thanks to changes being made to autopsy legislation.
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Leeton shire families have been among those who have experienced extra stress after the loss of a loved one who needs a post mortem examination.
With the process being done in Newcastle, some families were waiting up to six weeks to have loved one return before a funeral could take place.
Now, the NSW government has introduced changes to the Coroners Act 2009 which it says will help families get the answers they need a lot sooner.
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Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Attorney General Mark Speakman have put forward the proposals to NSW Parliament, which aim to avoid unnecessary post mortem examinations.
The amendment to the Act will remove the requirement to report a death to the Coroner where the deceased had not seen a doctor in the six months prior to death.
"These amendments will remove unnecessary red tape enabling families to have their deceased loved ones returned to them sooner, so they can grieve and lay them to rest," Mr Speakman said.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton has been outspoken on the issue and said the changes were a "positive start".
"It shows pressure from non-major party MPs can really make a difference," she said.
"It will reduce the number of families who have to wait several weeks to bury their loved ones."
The obligation under the Coroners Act 2009 to report unnatural, violent or suspicious deaths and sudden deaths from unknown causes will remain untouched.
Rural health has been a priority for Mrs Dalton since she took office earlier this year.
She said there was still plenty of work to be done to improve care for regional residents.
"The lack of doctors in regional areas is a massive problem and ought to be the government's number one priority," Mrs Dalton said.
"It's not just forensic scientists, but a range of medical professionals.
It's not good enough for government to just shrug their shoulders and say doctors don't want to work in rural areas.
"If they can build a $500 million pipeline for their donors in less than a year, they can pay for a few doctors to come here."
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