Tessa Quinn
A hospital mortuary, or morgue, is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, autopsy, burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. Hospital mortuaries are often located in the basement of the hospital near the loading docks and have separate entrances for the public and staff. The public entrance leads to a reception area with leaflets, flowers, and seating, while the staff entrance opens directly into the fridge room with the body storage units. The layout of a mortuary can vary depending on the hospital, with some having small walk-in coolers and others having larger spaces that can store over 15 bodies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Typically located on a lower floor near the back of the hospital, close to loading docks and with easy vehicle access. May be a standalone building or part of a hospital or funeral home. |
| Purpose | Storage of human corpses, awaiting identification, autopsy, burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. |
| Function | Basic services such as identification and autopsy, with possible additional services such as burial and cremation. |
| Layout | Two entrances: one for the public (police, doctors, family members, etc.) and one for staff and undertakers, leading directly to the fridge room. |
| Temperature Control | Bodies are typically stored between 2°C and 4°C to delay decomposition. |
| Equipment | Standard white mortuary trays, red "head blocks" to elevate the head, embalming tools, special sinks/drains for fluids, autoclaves for sterilizing tools, and memorial products (in funeral homes). |
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What You'll Learn
Hospital mortuaries are often located in the basement
Mortuaries are places used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. They are predominantly referred to as "mortuaries" in the UK and "morgues" in North America, although the terms are often used interchangeably.
Hospital mortuaries may be pure hospital mortuaries or public mortuaries. Hospital-only mortuaries will only perform post-mortems (PMs) on hospital patients, while some don't even do PMs and transfer the bodies to public mortuaries. Public mortuaries provide a place of safety for anyone who dies suddenly or unexpectedly in the community. Many mortuaries also offer facilities for the police to carry out forensic PMs for suspicious deaths.
Standalone morgues or mortuaries typically only provide autopsy and embalming services, along with basic burial or cremation services. They usually don't sell memorial products like caskets. In contrast, funeral homes or mortuaries attached to funeral homes can provide additional services such as embalming, funeral services, on-site burial, and cremation. They also provide memorial products like coffins, urns, and flowers.
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Layouts vary, but there are common themes
Hospital mortuaries are typically located on a lower floor near the back of the hospital, with some having their own carparks and memorial gardens. This location is chosen so that undertakers can drive up directly to the reception area, without being seen by the public. Mortuaries are also often set back from main roads, with electric gates that resemble metal walls, to protect the public from seeing any bodies being moved.
Mortuaries usually have two entrances: one for the public and one for staff and undertakers. The public entrance is for police, doctors, family members, students, etc. This entrance leads to the reception, which may have leaflets on grief, flowers, a water machine, and seats. The staff entrance opens directly into the fridge room, allowing undertakers to store a body in the fridge outside of regular hours.
Mortuaries are used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. In modern times, corpses are refrigerated to delay decomposition, typically being kept between 2°C and 4°C. Some funeral homes have viewing windows, allowing families to witness the insertion of the body into the cremation retort, honouring religious rites without entering the morgue.
While the layout of mortuaries varies, they share common themes, such as the two entrances, and the use of refrigeration to store bodies.
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Gloves and other equipment are always within reach
A hospital mortuary is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, autopsy, respectful burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. Hospital mortuaries are often located in the basement or at the back of the hospital, with easy access for undertakers to drive up to the reception area. They may also be located near loading docks for easy loading into vehicles for transport.
Mortuaries are designed with specific equipment and layouts to facilitate the handling and storage of the deceased. Gloves, for instance, are strategically placed next to each door inside the mortuary. This ensures that gloves are always within reach and easily accessible. Other equipment, such as embalming tools, are also kept within close reach. Embalming tools are typically stored in trays underneath the mortuary trays to facilitate the embalming process.
The strategic placement of gloves and other equipment is a priority in mortuary design. Gloves are essential for maintaining hygiene and protecting against the spread of potential contaminants. By placing them near doors, mortuary staff can quickly access them when entering or exiting the room, ensuring that they are always properly gloved when handling corpses or equipment.
Additionally, mortuaries often feature a variety of specialized equipment, such as refrigeration units to maintain optimal temperatures for preserving the deceased. The temperature settings can range from 2°C to 4°C for short-term storage to -10°C to -50°C for longer-term preservation. Mortuaries may also include autopsy tables, sinks for washing and draining fluids, and sterilization equipment like autoclaves.
The layout of a mortuary is designed to facilitate efficient workflows and ensure the respectful handling of the deceased. Gloves and other essential equipment, such as embalming tools and sterilization devices, are strategically placed to be easily accessible, minimizing the risk of contamination and ensuring that staff have the necessary tools readily available when needed.
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Bodies are stored between 2°C and 4°C
A hospital mortuary is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, autopsy, respectful burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. They are typically located in the basement or on a lower floor near the back of the hospital, away from public view.
The layout of mortuaries varies, with some having their own carparks and memorial gardens, while others are located near loading docks for easy transportation of bodies. Most mortuaries have two entrances: one for the public, including police, doctors, family members, and students, and another for staff and undertakers, which leads directly to the fridge room.
Mortuaries are equipped with trays, red 'head blocks' to keep the head raised and prevent purging, embALMING tools, sinks for draining blood and fluids, autoclaves for sterilising tools, and whiteboards for instructions. They may also have autopsy tables and varying capacities for body storage, depending on the size of the hospital.
While the term 'morgue' is predominantly used in North American English, and 'mortuary' in the UK, they refer to the same department or section within a hospital.
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Mortuaries are usually separate from funeral homes
A mortuary is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. While some mortuaries are attached to funeral homes, many are separate.
Secondly, mortuaries have a specific function within the death care industry, focusing on the preparation and storage of bodies. They perform autopsies, embalming, and basic burial or cremation services. Funeral homes, in contrast, specialize in hosting memorial events and providing emotional support to the family. They offer a comprehensive package, including selling memorial products, providing funeral directors, and creating meaningful ceremonies.
Additionally, mortuaries may be standalone or attached to hospitals. Standalone mortuaries are often public mortuaries, serving the community by providing a place of safety for unexpected deaths. These mortuaries are not usually attached to funeral homes, as their primary purpose is to serve the public rather than private funeral services.
Furthermore, the distinction between mortuaries and funeral homes can be blurred, as some funeral homes have their own morgues attached, while some mortuaries may offer limited burial or cremation services. However, mortuaries that are separate from funeral homes typically do not provide memorial products like caskets, urns, or flowers. They focus on the technical aspects of body preparation rather than the ceremonial aspects of funeral services.
Lastly, the terms morgue and mortuary are often used interchangeably, but they can have distinct meanings in certain contexts. "Morgue" is predominantly used in North American English, while "mortuary" is more common in the UK. Understanding these regional differences can help clarify the services provided and whether they are separate from funeral homes.
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Frequently asked questions
A hospital mortuary, or morgue, is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal.
Hospital mortuaries tend to be on a lower floor near the back of the hospital so that undertakers can drive straight to the reception area without being seen by the public. They usually have two entrances: one for the public and one for staff and undertakers. The public entrance leads to the reception area, while the other entrance opens directly into the fridge room with the fridge doors. Mortuaries are refrigerated to delay decomposition, with bodies kept between 2 °C (36 °F) and 4 °C (39 °F).
Hospital mortuaries perform post-mortems (PMs) on hospital patients and store the bodies until they are claimed by the family or funeral home. They may also transfer bodies to public mortuaries. Public mortuaries serve anyone who dies suddenly or unexpectedly in the community and provide facilities for the police to carry out forensic PMs in suspicious death cases.
