DRAFT Limerick opening
The former Governor of Mount Joy Prison, John Lonergan, will perform the official opening of the revamped mortuary at University Hospital Limerick at the official opening today, October 20th.
The hospital in Dooradoyle was awarded a Design & Dignity grant in 2011 totalling €285,000, along with funding from HSE estates, which was used to transform the old mortuary into a calming dignified space for bereaved families.
The Design & Dignity Project is operated in partnership between the Irish Hospice Foundation and HSE. The scheme aims to transform the way hospital spaces are designed for people at the end of life, and to set the standard for other hospitals to follow.
The new mortuary facility at University Hospital Limerick wraps around an internal tranquil garden. This feature allows them the opportunity to reflect and prepare themselves for viewing their loved ones.
The provision of a kitchenette in the mortuary allows for tea and coffee making facilities, while a privacy room, away from the main area, offers a space for families to have time together in a protected and supporting space.
The mortuary extension was nominated as a finalist in the ‘Healthcare Building Project of the Year’ category at The Irish Healthcare Centre Awards 2015.
Denis Casey, End of Life Care Coordinator at University Hospital Limerick said, “The grant allowed us to make major improvements to the mortuary and this has created a much more inviting space for families to congregate following the death of their loved one.
To date 11 projects have been funded across the country under the Design & Dignity scheme at a cost of €1.5m. A further nine hospitals around Ireland will benefit from grants totalling €500,000 this year, which will help transformolder/dated spaces including family rooms, gardens and mortuaries.
Sharon Foley, CEO of the Irish Hospice Foundation said, “Every year 30,000 people in Ireland die, and 43% die in acute hospitals.The Design & Dignity Fund aims to bring design excellence to hospitals so that the experience of dying is as positive as it can be, both for those going through it and for those left behind. This project in University Hospital Limerick now provides a peaceful environment where families can process their grief and spend that precious time saying goodbye to their loved one.
“Our congratulations are extended to all who worked on this project and especially to the staff of UHL for their commitment to providing this space for their patients and families. It is wonderful to see it come to fruition.”