Mortuary Service

The mortuary at St. Vincent’s University Hospital provides a dignified, efficient, and compassionate service in attending to the needs of relatives and the respectful care of the deceased. The mortuary includes a reception area, two chapels, a room for relatives, an area for viewing deceased, a bathroom, a refrigeration room and an embalming facility. The mortuary also has a separate autopsy department which includes autopsy theatres and technicians’ offices.

Deceased patients
Patients who die at St. Vincent’s University Hospital or St. Vincent’s Private Hospital are brought to the mortuary where they remain until they can be released to the family through the funeral director.

Cremation

When a deceased patient is for cremation, please print and complete Form C for the relevant crematorium

and call mortuary reception on 01 221 4238.

Mount Jerome Crem Papers

Newlands cross Glasnevin

Visiting a deceased relative
A family may wish to spend time with their deceased relative before removal from the mortuary. To facilitate this, the deceased is presented appropriately and placed in the Chapel of Peace, prior to the family’s arrival. A relatives room is available to families who may need space and privacy while spending time with their deceased relative. This room can also be used by families to discuss any relevant arrangements with mortuary staff.

The role of the funeral director
Funeral directors liaise with mortuary staff regarding the release of a deceased, including any issues relating to a post-mortem examination. Embalming of the deceased can also be facilitated in the mortuary. Mortuary staff liaise, as required, with clinical and nursing staff, family, pathology department, coroner’s office, An Garda Siochána and the funeral director.

Removal service
The mortuary facilitates families who wish to have a removal service for their deceased relative. This can take place in either the Chapel of Rest or Chapel of Peace. Following the service, the deceased is removed from the mortuary chapel by the funeral director. All removal services are arranged in conjunction with the chaplaincy team-  who will ensure that the requirements of the different religious denominations are accommodated as much as possible.

Autopsies

Pathology technicians within the Pathology Department will liaise with the coroner’s office and An Garda Síochána in relation to all reportable deaths within St.Vincent’s University Hospital or St.Vincent’s Private Hospital. Before a deceased can be released to the family, it is important to establish whether a post-mortem examination is required.

Where an autopsy has been ordered by the coroner – or arranged by the doctors who cared for the deceased – the post-mortem examination will be carried out in a professional and dignified manner – liaising at all times with the clinical and nursing staff and family of the deceased.  The Anatomical Pathology Technicians will liaise with the mortuary services coordinator and family liaison officer once the post-mortem examination has been completed – so that the deceased’s remains can be released to the funeral director.

Bereavement support

A bereavement pack is offered to relatives of patients who die in St. Vincent’s University Hospital on the ward where the patient has died or in the Emergency Department.

The bereavement pack includes the following information:

• Practical information for relatives following bereavement (St.Vincent’s University Hospital)
• Bereavement support (Citizens Information Service)
• Bereavement grant information (Dept. Social and Family Affairs)
• Contact details cards for mortuary service at St. Vincent’s University Hospital

Mortuary staff

• Senior Anatomical Pathology Technician – Colin Howe
• Anatomical Pathology Technician – Fiona Hudson
• Mortuary Services – Tony Eliasen