Mayo hospital responds to concerns over 'no designated room for dying patients'

The HSE has described as “most rare” a recent situation at Mayo University Hospital (MUH) where the body of a deceased patient who passed away was kept for five and half hours in a busy ward before it was removed.

Responding to concerns raised in a letter to The Connaught Telegraph by a former patient, the HSE has issued a statement.

Part of the statement reads: “It is most rare that a deceased patient would remain on the ward for an extended period of time but circumstances and specific requests are supported to the best of our ability.

“On these occasions we endeavour to counsel any other patients in the ward."

The person who raised the issue in a letter to The Connaught Telegraph says she was shocked to discover there is no designated room available in the hospital for a dying patient.

The letter, which was published in last week’s online and print edition, recalled how following the death in the ward, a stream of loved ones started arriving to pay their final respects.

“After their departure none of the staff came to take away the corpse and over the following hours the rest of us patients were given meals on two occasions and visitors came and went.

“All as if nothing unusual had happened.

“Eventually, after a time lapse of almost five and a half hours, the corpse was finally removed from our ward.

This incident was a deeply disturbing experience for me and one that I won’t forget.”

Asked by The Connaught Telegraph to respond to the points raised by the former patient, the HSE has issued the following statement.

“While we cannot comment on individual cases, staff and management in MUH are fully committed to providing compassionate end of life care which is person-centred and delivered in a dignified and respectful manner in accordance with the wishes and beliefs of the deceased.

“We will always try to provide a single room for a patient who is at end of life, but this is not always possible. Every effort and consideration is given to providing individual room care to end of life patients but often these rooms need to be used by patients who are isolated for infection prevention and control measures or whose immunity is compromised.

“Following the death of a patient, we allow families to spend time with the deceased. This is a very important time for the newly bereaved as they experience the realisation of death occurring whether this has been expected or unexpected. There is a symbolic and cultural meaning to time spent with the deceased in the immediate aftermath of death, allowing the bereaved an opportunity to offer a mark of respect.

“Staff ensure that the bereaved have sufficient time with the deceased and do not feel rushed, informing them of the next steps on the pathway of care.

“It is most rare that a deceased patient would remain on the ward for an extended period of time but circumstances and specific requests are supported to the best of our ability. On these occasions we endeavour to counsel any other patients in the ward.

“Patients and families are welcome to discuss their experience of end of life care at any time with a member of their clinical team or with hospital management.”

Finally the HSE statement made it clear that the hospital manager is available to speak to the concerned patient conceding that it “must have been a very difficult time for them."