> Doctors are pocketing almost £15m a year from grieving families in return for filling in simple forms sanctioning the release of the bodies of loved ones for cremation.

> "Ash cash" payments, as they are known by medical staff, are considered one of the perks of the job. Tales of junior doctors vying with each other to fill in the forms, for which they receive £73.50 a time, are legion. A junior doctor who blogs under the name "The Daily Rhino" has described ash cash "as the house officer's privilege, it is the fund for Thursday night drinks all over the country".