Investigation launched as human remains found in unused room at Box Hill Hospital

Staff at Melbourne’s Box Hill Hospital are at odds over the grisly discovery of human remains found inside an unused room, unable to figure out how they ended up there.

Mystery surrounds the grisly discovery of human remains found inside an unused room at Melbourne’s Box Hill Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Mystery surrounds the grisly discovery of human remains in an unused room at a suburban Melbourne hospital.

An investigation was launched after a staff member discovered human tissue in an unused “bone room” in an administrative building opposite Box Hill Hospital on February 14.

The Coroner’s Court on Thursday heard the staff member noticed fluid leaking into a hallway before bone fragments, human tissue and a leaky fridge were found inside the room.

Despite extensive efforts, Eastern Health was unable to find records of the human tissue but they believed it was purchased from the University of Melbourne in 2014.

But Coroner Paul Lawrie, who was tasked with probing the discovery, said the university did not have records about its purchase.

An investigation was launched after a staff member discovered human tissue in an unused “bone room” in an administrative building opposite Box Hill Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Karen Cusack, who is senior legal counsel for Eastern Health, told the court the hospital was “at a loss” as to where else to look for documents.

“There’s clearly some gaps there, as no records were kept at the hospital,” she said.

“This room hadn’t been used for many years.”

She said Eastern Health had engaged external investigators to track down former staff.

“There are some people that we think may be able to elicit some information,” she said.

The room stored temporal bones which were used by medical students up until 2016, but Eastern Health had no records relating to its use for anatomy teaching.

Ms Cusack said it would also be investigated whether a surgeon had purchased the tissue without the knowledge of the hospital.

Mr Lawrie said he wanted the investigation completed within six weeks.

The matter will return to the Coroner’s Court at a later date.