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My experience ay Drumchapel Hospital

Posted By Mr James Smith

"My experience ay Drumchapel Hospital"

About: Drumchapel Hospital

(as a relative),

I arrived at Drumchapel Hospital one evening about 7 months ago to visit my cousin and noticed lots of patients, mums, dads and small children all in the waiting area.. People were waiting to see the GP's who operate there in the evenings and the reception area was very busy.. Passing into the hospital to visit my family member I was a long time guest/visitor of this hospital. Whilst in the hospital there was a high level of laughter/noise coming from the corridor and a number of staff passed pushing a steel box type trolley about six foot long with a blue cover. After passing the reception area which was still very busy this happy band headed down the long windowed slope. Everyone was shocked to watch this and some patients wheeled themselves away after seeing this saying that this should not happen. Someone went over and asked the staff was this what everyone thought it was and they said Yes, the trolley contained a dead person. There was no respect or dignity in the way this was being done.

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Responses

Response from Lorna Fairlie, Patient Experience, Public Involvement Project Manager, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 8 years ago
Lorna Fairlie
Patient Experience, Public Involvement Project Manager,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

I work in a small team in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde which seeks to involve patients and carers in the work of the NHS. The biggest part of my role is in managing feedback projects across the Board area, one of which is Patient Opinion. It is my job to give our patients and carers the opportunity to give us feedback, and to make sure that this is passed to the right people to help us improve the services we provide.

Submitted on 07/05/2015 at 14:52
Published on Care Opinion at 15:29

Dear Mr Smith,

First of all, please let me apologise for the time taken to respond to your post. I have discussed your concerns with Maria Pitticas, the Deputy Site Facilities Manager at Drumchapel and she and the Portering Supervisor recall this situation and interaction with the porter, and the member of nursing staff who accompanied them.

Maria has provided me with some information with regards to the movement of deceased patients and advised that there is no other route in Drumchapel Hospital from the wards to the mortuary other than by the main entranceway. The portering staff make every effort to ensure that deceased patients are moved at the most opportune time, however there are times when there will be members of the public or visitors around as it is a working hospital and the Out of Hours GP Service is open until midnight, and sometimes beyond.

The porters in this hospital are very experienced and carry out this duty with the utmost respect. They are all well trained to ensure that transfer of bodies is carried out in a way which minimises any distress for others, as well as to respect the personal dignity of the deceased.

If you have any further details which you would like to share, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me directly on lorna.gray@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.

Yours Sincerely,

Lorna

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