Refurbished mortuary in Sligo offers dignified space for bereaved families

The new facility, entitled The Slán Project, was officially opened in late 2015 by Tommie Gorman, RTE Northern Ireland Editor.             

Sligo Regional Hospital was awarded a Design & Dignity grant in 2011 which was used to transform the old mortuary into a calming space for bereaved families. The new viewing rooms are refined and dignified with quiet ante-rooms where people may first see their deceased loved one.

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.
Commenting, Grainne McCann General Manager Sligo Regional Hospital said, “We were pleased to work in partnership with The Irish Hospice Foundation to provide such an important facility for recently bereaved families. The existing facilities here in SRH did not provide the space or the facilities for families to grieve. We hope that this new mortuary provides some comfort to families in what is an extremely difficult time. I would like to acknowledge the work of the Slán Project team who are part of the End of Life Care Committee in Sligo Regional Hospital and who were a key part of ensuring that this facility was developed.”
Dr Cathryn Bogan, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, North West Hospice and Sligo Regional Hospital said, “This new viewing area is a great asset for bereaved families serving Sligo Regional Hospital, The North West Hospice and the community at large. These new improved facilities are very much welcomed and will be a dignified space for bereaved relatives to be with their deceased family member in a time of profound grief and loss.”

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 Sligo Regional Hospital provides a peaceful environment where families can process their grief and spend that precious time saying goodbye to their loved one.”