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

Family members may wish to spend time with their deceased relative before they are removed from the mortuary. To facilitate this, the deceased person will be prepared with care and brought to the Chapel of Peace before the family arrives.

Visits are by appointment. Please contact the mortuary on 01 221 4238 so that suitable arrangements can be made.

The role of the funeral director
Funeral directors liaise with mortuary staff to arrange the release of the deceased person and confirm whether a burial or cremation will take place.

Removal service

The mortuary can facilitate families who wish to hold a removal service for their deceased relative. The service may take place in either the Chapel of Rest or the Chapel of Peace. Following the service, the deceased person will be removed from the mortuary chapel by the funeral director.

Removal services are arranged through the mortuary and the funeral director, in conjunction with the Chaplaincy team. The team will make every effort to accommodate the family’s religious, spiritual and cultural requirements.

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