UHW Mortuary

Harry Palmr

Not sure if this really deserves a thread but is anyone following this breaking story? A report of the mortuary unit is damning and grisly. Bodies literally rotting due to lack of refrigeration and capacity among other matters, the whole unit sounds like something out of an horror thriller. The unit was due an upgrade dating back to 2013 when the dept gave the go-ahead and planning permission granted yet nothing has happened. Imagine working in there or visiting.

JohnC.

I'd just been reading about it here. The hospital is being ruined.

Max Powers

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Not sure if this really deserves a thread but is anyone following this breaking story? A report of the mortuary unit is damning and grisly. Bodies literally rotting due to lack of refrigeration and capacity among other matters, the whole unit sounds like something out of an horror thriller. The unit was due an upgrade dating back to 2013 when the dept gave the go-ahead and planning permission granted yet nothing has happened. Imagine working in there or visiting.

News and star broke the story yesterday and deserve a lot of credit for it.obviously it becomes an issue when it's taken up by both main papers nationally.seems like contracts going to tender with start end of year, apparently.shouldnt have taken so long obviously

Dum_Dum

But it was upgraded to a University Hospital - centre of excellence and all that.

greenspurs

Sean Orourke show talking about it also.

hardybuck

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Not sure if this really deserves a thread but is anyone following this breaking story? A report of the mortuary unit is damning and grisly. Bodies literally rotting due to lack of refrigeration and capacity among other matters, the whole unit sounds like something out of an horror thriller. The unit was due an upgrade dating back to 2013 when the dept gave the go-ahead and planning permission granted yet nothing has happened. Imagine working in there or visiting.

Imagine the range of emotions that you'd feel if you couldn't have a wake for a family member, or say goodbye to them before closing the coffin, because they were left to rot in a hallway.

Wanderer78

Dum_Dum wrote: »

But it was upgraded to a University Hospital - centre of excellence and all that.

do name changes really improve things?

theres clearly something seriously wrong with our health service

Deiseen

So so terrible.

Also very symbolic of how Waterford and the entire South East are left to die and rot.

Ireland should be ashamed of its treatment of the South East and its people, especially those who cannot defend themselves.

hardybuck

The HSE tried to block Darren Skelton's FOI request as they thought it wasn't in the public interest to release the information.

Harris has just called them in today and told them to get construction started before Christmas.

Bards

Can we ask Europe to intervene at this stage... We are being treated as second class citizens here

hardybuck

Bards wrote: »

Can we ask Europe to intervene at this stage... We are being treated as second class citizens here

Do you think that wouldn't happen in Europe?

Deiseen

hardybuck wrote: »

Do you think that wouldn't happen in Europe?

Not in a country that is supposedly as "rich" as ours!

MartyMcFly84

How hard would it be to get a refrigerated truck as a temporary solution as opposed to allowing corspes to rot on trolleys?

JohnC.

Am I imagining things or did they have temporary refrigerated containers at some point in the past? Maybe I'm thinking of another hospital.

Dunmoreroader

JohnC. wrote: »

Am I imagining things or did they have temporary refrigerated containers at some point in the past? Maybe I'm thinking of another hospital.

You might be thinking of the temporary Cath lab in an articulated lorry we had for.... a few months. The HSE (a.k.a G.O.D.) must have a contact which makes mobile (I.e. removable) medical facilities just for these little scrapes they keeps getting into down here in the lil'old South of east! Gotta laugh! 😂

comeraghs

Absolutely shameful stuff from the HSE, only responding to a letter sent in Oct in April before it was published because of the FOI, Then attacking the whistleblowers instead of accepting that there is a problem.

it's quite depressing how awful and untouchable an organisation the HSE is.

CardBordWindow

Have any of the families that had to have closed coffin funerals made any comment?
I do find it curious that something like this hasn't been reported long ago if it was as commonplace as the letter suggests.

Gardner

CardBordWindow wrote: »

Have any of the families that had to have closed coffin funerals made any comment?
I do find it curious that something like this hasn't been reported long ago if it was as commonplace as the letter suggests.

there has being no closed coffin funerals attributed to this i believe. i think the mortuary defo needs to be upgraded but i think local media have blown it out of proportion and particularly skelton may have been led down a garden path by the specialists

ArtVandelay76

Gardner wrote: »

there has being no closed coffin funerals attributed to this i believe. i think the mortuary defo needs to be upgraded but i think local media have blown it out of proportion and particularly skelton may have been led down a garden path by the specialists

Are you a member of Fine Gael?

Deiseen

ArtVandelay76 wrote: »

Are you a member of Fine Gael?

Thought we had Leo Varadkar on here for a second

Gardner

certainly not but isn't it great to have a different view to the social media masses!

ArtVandelay76

Gardner wrote: »

certainly not but isn't it great to have a different view to the social media masses!

I'm just wondering why you think the specialists would want to lead anyone up the garden path.

azimuth17

Gardner wrote: »

certainly not but isn't it great to have a different view to the social media masses!

I can smell the Blueshirt from here. Anyone who read the local papers this week will have seen comment from local undertakers about conditions and seen mention of a serious case. It is very hard to rationalise why anyone would think that four professionals would put their names to a letter making such stark comment. What possible gain would there be in it for them. The mortuary has been commented upon since 2003 and has been listed for development since 2014. It got planning in 2015 and was deemed by the HSE to be a health and Safety priority for the staff and public using the place. There are enough trolls around the Waterford city forum to populate a good size Lord of the Rings sequel. They infest every thread on it. As soon as anyone suggests something should, could or might be done in Waterford city they start with their wrecking ball.

Aquos76

Gardner wrote: »

certainly not but isn't it great to have a different view to the social media masses!

Not FG, but you are one of Halligans puppets, and hence your constant agenda against Darren Skelton, and please dont come back with this ****e that Darren is my brother, thats why I defend him, that's common knowledge around these parts by now

robtri

azimuth17 wrote: »

I can smell the Blueshirt from here. Anyone who read the local papers this week will have seen comment from local undertakers about conditions and seen mention of a serious case. It is very hard to rationalise why anyone would think that four professionals would put their names to a letter making such stark comment. What possible gain would there be in it for them. The mortuary has been commented upon since 2003 and has been listed for development since 2014. It got planning in 2015 and was deemed by the HSE to be a health and Safety priority for the staff and public using the place. There are enough trolls around the Waterford city forum to populate a good size Lord of the Rings sequel. They infest every thread on it. As soon as anyone suggests something should, could or might be done in Waterford city they start with their wrecking ball.

besides Waterford today, can you link to other papers that carried the story, specifically one carrying comments from undertakers. I would like to read more on this.

azimuth17

Buy the local papers for an in depth picture this week.. The Munster Express has a good story about an undertaker. who had seen difficulties on many occasions. It may not be on line yet. I think it suffices (for me and most people I know at any rate) that four senior pathologists put their name to a letter asking for delivery of something which was a priority in 2003/4.

erica74

I don't think 4 senior consultants would put their reputations on the line for something that was in any way untrue. If you have ever been in UHW, you'll know it is one of the most underfunded, understaffed, poorly run hospitals in the country.

friendlyfun

Gardner wrote: »

there has being no closed coffin funerals attributed to this i believe. i think the mortuary defo needs to be upgraded but i think local media have blown it out of proportion and particularly skelton may have been led down a garden path by the specialists

No way blown out of proportion. I was talking to a man who had to identify his brother on a trolley in a corridor.


Anybody who says ite blown out of proportion are just being callous.

Aquos76

friendlyfun wrote: »

No way blown out of proportion. I was talking to a man who had to identify his brother on a trolley in a corridor.


Anybody who says ite blown out of proportion are just being callous.

Or has their own agenda against the journalist who broke the story.

JohnC.

I see Leo realised he put his foot in it with his comments.

Max Powers

Gardner wrote: »

there has being no closed coffin funerals attributed to this i believe. i think the mortuary defo needs to be upgraded but i think local media have blown it out of proportion and particularly skelton may have been led down a garden path by the specialists

Time to start using that brain.

azimuth17

Max Powers wrote: »

Time to start using that brain.

Max, you presume too much. That post from Gardner is contemptible.

Gardner

Max Powers wrote: »

Time to start using that brain.

There still is no evidence that there was closed coffin funerals. Until this is proven and put in the public arena then everything else is just personal opinion or rumour. Fact!

The mortuary needs to be upgraded. Fact!

The second letter is a game changer. Fact!

Skelton is a poor journalist. Always was and always will be. There is no vendetta against him. Like above it's a personal opinion. If all going to plan his potential career change (just like the rumours above) after next GE might work out better for him

Aquos76

Gardner wrote: »

Skelton is a poor journalist. Always was and always will be. There is no vendetta against him. Like above it's a personal opinion. If all going to plan his potential career change (just like the rumours above) after next GE might work out better for him

It's clear that Halligan and his supporters really hate Darren...which to the majority of other people will mean that he's actually doing a good job.

He broke the Mortuary story, the North Quays story, the Vans story, The Council Credit Cards story, the courthouses cost story, and those are just the ones off the top of my head. Im biased because he's my brother, but jaysus, if he's a poor journalist, can you tell me what a good one is?

debok

Gardner wrote: »

There still is no evidence that there was closed coffin funerals. Until this is proven and put in the public arena then everything else is just personal opinion or rumour. Fact!

The mortuary needs to be upgraded. Fact!

The second letter is a game changer. Fact!

Skelton is a poor journalist. Always was and always will be. There is no vendetta against him. Like above it's a personal opinion. If all going to plan his potential career change (just like the rumours above) after next GE might work out better for him

Personally speaking I had a family member who had to have a closed casket. We were told issues with the post mortem were the reason but now it makes you think. At the time you don't think to ask questions you just trust what the people are telling you.
Why do you have such a thing against Skelton? In fairness he's only working for a local paper what do you expect Pulitzer prizes. He does his job and has highlighted alot in waterford.

JohnC.

Halligan seems strangely quiet on this one considering how vocal he likes to be at other times.

mooseknunkle

Aquos76 wrote: »

It's clear that Halligan and his supporters really hate Darren...which to the majority of other people will mean that he's actually doing a good job.

He broke the Mortuary story, the North Quays story, the Vans story, The Council Credit Cards story, the courthouses cost story, and those are just the ones off the top of my head. Im biased because he's my brother, but jaysus, if he's a poor journalist, can you tell me what a good one is?

To be fair if he hadnt "broke" those stories someone else would of, at the end of the day its a local newspaper in a small city in Ireland,no matter what story is on the front page 70yr old Peggy from cannon street is still going to buy it to see the death notices or Tommy Walsh from johns park will still buy it to get the local sports info,the same people will still buy the munster or n&s every week no matter whats on the front or who writes it.

Ill give him credit with the mortuary story but as soon as he picked it up the Irish times had it and that was that,id doubt the sales went through the roof with that story on the front page either.

And before you start accusing me of been a Halligan supporter too im not in anyway political,just adding a bit of perspective to this.

DLS_75

Irish times owns and prints the news and star so I’m assuming that’s how they had it.

hard to agree with the local paper element thoigh - you’d have to wonder how they’re still going

Aquos76

mooseknunkle wrote: »

To be fair if he hadnt "broke" those stories someone else would of, at the end of the day its a local newspaper in a small city in Ireland,no matter what story is on the front page 70yr old Peggy from cannon street is still going to buy it to see the death notices or Tommy Walsh from johns park will still buy it to get the local sports info,the same people will still buy the munster or n&s every week no matter whats on the front or who writes it.

Ill give him credit with the mortuary story but as soon as he picked it up the Irish times had it and that was that,id doubt the sales went through the roof with that story on the front page either.

And before you start accusing me of been a Halligan supporter too im not in anyway political,just adding a bit of perspective to this.

I’m certainly not going to accuse you of being a Halligan supporter, you are entitled to your opinion. The reason why I labelled that towards Gardner is he has always had a problem with Darren. I don’t agree with you about if he didn’t break those stories, then someone else one. That could be labelled at any journalist in that case. Local papers are without a doubt dying off, that’s not to say there still isn’t a place for them though.

Oxter

. If you have ever been in UHW, you'll know it is one of the most underfunded, understaffed, poorly run hospitals in the country.[/quote]

Thats why it needs a bigger morgue.

mooseknunkle

Aquos76 wrote: »

I’m certainly not going to accuse you of being a Halligan supporter, you are entitled to your opinion. The reason why I labelled that towards Gardner is he has always had a problem with Darren. I don’t agree with you about if he didn’t break those stories, then someone else one. That could be labelled at any journalist in that case. Local papers are without a doubt dying off, that’s not to say there still isn’t a place for them though.

I think hes good at what he does for what it worth and it did come across wrong in me saying anyone would of broke them stories,there will always be a place for local newspapers but in what capacity remains to be seen i guess.

azimuth17

Forgive me in advance folks, but I have to say that this thread now bears the faint aroma of begrudgery or damning with faint praise towards Darren Skelton. He was the one who followed the story from the start and issued the FoI request. The News and Star is owned by the Irish Times. they picked his story from last weeks N&S (it would have been a hard not to miss it, as I believe they print it in Dublin) and everything followed from their front page article. The News and Star and Darren have been acknowledged everywhere and in every media outlet that carried the story including Sean O'Rourke, Mary Wilson, Pat Leahy, Gene Kerrigan, Matt Cooper. Ivan Yates etc. It is relatively easy for those who follow the story on line to belittle Mr Skelton's work and contribution towards doing what has been a public service to UHW and the four consultants. The Pulitzer Prize winning commentariat here probably have not seen the forensic detail he went into in the paper because they just don't read papers any more?
Credit where credit is due .

fricatus

^^^
Well said

Max Powers

azimuth17 wrote: »

Forgive me in advance folks, but I have to say that this thread now bears the faint aroma of begrudgery or damning with faint praise towards Darren Skelton. He was the one who followed the story from the start and issued the FoI request. The News and Star is owned by the Irish Times. they picked his story from last weeks N&S (it would have been a hard not to miss it, as I believe they print it in Dublin) and everything followed from their front page article. The News and Star and Darren have been acknowledged everywhere and in every media outlet that carried the story including Sean O'Rourke, Mary Wilson, Pat Leahy, Gene Kerrigan, Matt Cooper. Ivan Yates etc. It is relatively easy for those who follow the story on line to belittle Mr Skelton's work and contribution towards doing what has been a public service to UHW and the four consultants. The Pulitzer Prize winning commentariat here probably have not seen the forensic detail he went into in the paper because they just don't read papers any more?
Credit where credit is due .

Faint aroma...a typical Irish stink more like

Deiseen

azimuth17 wrote: »

Forgive me in advance folks, but I have to say that this thread now bears the faint aroma of begrudgery or damning with faint praise towards Darren Skelton. He was the one who followed the story from the start and issued the FoI request. The News and Star is owned by the Irish Times. they picked his story from last weeks N&S (it would have been a hard not to miss it, as I believe they print it in Dublin) and everything followed from their front page article. The News and Star and Darren have been acknowledged everywhere and in every media outlet that carried the story including Sean O'Rourke, Mary Wilson, Pat Leahy, Gene Kerrigan, Matt Cooper. Ivan Yates etc. It is relatively easy for those who follow the story on line to belittle Mr Skelton's work and contribution towards doing what has been a public service to UHW and the four consultants. The Pulitzer Prize winning commentariat here probably have not seen the forensic detail he went into in the paper because they just don't read papers any more?
Credit where credit is due .

Spot on. Some dopes on here.

Oxter

Deiseen wrote: »

Spot on. Some dopes on here.

Darren Skelton"s initial Foi request was refused as "it wasnt in the public interest".

This has echoes of the CervicalCheck attempted coverup.

Would the Hse reveal how many other Foi requests hsve been refused?

debok

State post mortems being moved from uhw.gardai can't risk contamination of bodies.
But I thought leo said it wasnt true.!!!!

Uriel.

debok wrote: »

State post mortems being moved from uhw.gardai can't risk contamination of bodies.
But I thought leo said it wasnt true.!!!!

To be fair to the Taoiseach, that's not what he said. He said certain claims had not been verified at the time. In truth he'd have been better off couching it in slightly different terms.
I'd say the Taoiseach knows full well that there are many specialist interests in the medical and health world and you need to be cautious with claims being made. In this case, the claims being made were accurate and not exaggerated.

erica74

Oxter wrote: »

. If you have ever been in UHW, you'll know it is one of the most underfunded, understaffed, poorly run hospitals in the country.

Thats why it needs a bigger morgue.[/quote]

And the rest. 2 floors of that new building out the front will be for palliative care. Surely they understand the link between palliative care and a morgue which is not up to standards and not big enough for the current demand.

greenspurs

More evidence Leo ?

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/calls-for-independent-inquiry-into-mortuary-facilities-at-waterford-hospital-922682.html

debok

Uriel. wrote: »

To be fair to the Taoiseach, that's not what he said. He said certain claims had not been verified at the time. In truth he'd have been better off couching it in slightly different terms.
I'd say the Taoiseach knows full well that there are many specialist interests in the medical and health world and you need to be cautious with claims being made. In this case, the claims being made were accurate and not exaggerated.

He's leader of the country. He should have only spoken when he knew full facts