Back row, l-r, League of Friends vice-chairman Clive Fawn, mortuary technician John Flattery, lead chaplain David Flowers, League of Friends volunteers Penny Tansley and Dorinda Sheppard, with, front row, l-r, League of Friends chairman Rosie Havers, League of Friends volunteers Bill Hardy and Claire Austin-Smith
The League of Friends charity based at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) has donated a mobile mortuary to increase the hospital’s capacity to care for deceased patients.
The innovative ‘Flexmort’ portable mortuary cost £16,000 and was purchased with money raised by the charity’s 200 members through the League of Friend’s charity shop in the RBH Atrium, Christmas fairs and legacies.
The portable mortuary will only be used in the unusual event that the hospital’s main mortuary is at capacity and will allow RBH’s mortuary technician to continue to provide dignified care for deceased patients on site rather than being transported to neighbouring facilities.
The mobile structure can be put up in less than an hour and is made up of lightweight, durable metal bars with a cooling covering. The mortuary is then hooked up to a power supply generating cold air in the enclosed space.
Reverend David Flowers, Lead Chaplain at RBH, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this impressive piece of kit. The mobile mortuary will allow our mortuary technician to provide the same level of dignified care we provide for our deceased patients housed in the main mortuary.
“The mobile mortuary will also allow us to share best practice when caring for deceased patients, as it will be available for other hospitals to use in a situation where their own mortuaries reach capacity” he said.
