Worcestershire Royal Hospital, run by the NHS Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, has been criticised for storing deceased bodies in fridge ‘pods’ located in its car park.
The external fridges were initially installed as an emergency mortuary during the Covid pandemic and have remained in use since then.
However, concerns have been raised about the appropriateness of these hospital facilities after inspectors from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) expressed doubts that their location in the hospital’s car park would “sufficiently safeguard the dignity of the deceased”.
Hospital chiefs defended the use of the facility, citing high demand. The HTA recommended that the NHS trust should find a more suitable location for the external fridge bank if it continues to be used, according to the Health Service Journal
It was also suggested that a protective enclosure should be set up around the fridge to maintain the dignity of deceased patients during the “transfer and release” of bodies.
“As such, under the current set up, the use of this area for body storage is deemed unsuitable”, the inspection report stated.
Another significant issue highlighted in the inspection report was the uneven floors in two of the outdoor refrigerator pods, which continued to be used for body storage despite failing health and safety risk assessments.
Inspectors recorded: “Outside refrigerator (pods four and five) at Worcestershire Royal Hospital have failed risk assessments by the Trust’s Health and Safety team due to the uneven surface in the loading bay area. As a result, the mortuary have been advised not to use these units.
“However, mortuary staff have left the pods powered on, and they are still being used when deemed necessary.
“Although the units were not in use on the day of the inspection, the inspection team expressed concerns that they continue to be used despite the advisory notice. This poses the risk of accidental damage to a body.”
A representative for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust stated: “A temporary specialist additional body store facility was commissioned as part of the Trust’s response to the Covid pandemic. With the demand on mortuary services continuing to grow, this facility has been maintained to provide the additional capacity and resilience required to deliver a safe and effective service if needed.
“While the facility is separate from the mortuary building, it is adjacent, in an area that has been converted from a small, barrier-controlled and non-public car park. Access is controlled and monitored by CCTV to ensure security.
“Additionally, it is important that all our facilities provide the necessary dignity and respect required.
“We are committed to providing empathetic and dignified care to our patients and families and are pleased that in its latest inspection the HTA found we were meeting the majority of standards.
“An action plan based on the HTA’s advice is now in progress.”