Mortuary scandal at UHW demands urgent review – Liadh Ní Riada MEP

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has described the treatment of bodies in University Hospital Waterford as “an affront to human dignity” and called for an urgent review.

The Ireland South MEP was speaking as it was revealed that due to a lack of refrigeration bodies have been left decomposing on trolleys in corridors.

Ms Ní Riada said;

“It is breathtaking that the situation at UHW been allowed to degenerate to such a degree that closed coffin funerals have become a necessity in many cases.

“This is not only an affront to human dignity but will heap more agony on already grieving families.

“There needs to be an urgent review into this scandal so that important questions are answered.

“How long was this horrific situation going on? Were families informed as to why the bodies of their loved ones ended up in such a condition? Were they even told that they had been left to deteriorate on trolleys in corridors.

“Of course, the overarching cause will not surprise anyone.

“This is yet another case of our health service being starved of resources and staff by a legacy of under-investment from generations of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments.

“The South East in particular has been a victim of this lack of funding, with the Government still refusing to provide 24/7 cardiac care cover for region.

“It seems, in the South East at least, this Government has no respect for life or death.”