Recently winning plaudits from the Human Tissue Authority the impressively updated and refurbished mortuary and post mortem room facilities at Southport and Formby District General Hospital are a far cry from the original 1980’s cramped unit.

The old mortuary did not comply with the latest requirements in a number of key areas. Yet the spacious, new facilities, which offer 30% more body storage capacity, with vastly improved working conditions and greatly reduced manual handing requirements, have all been achieved within the same footprint at a really cost effective price. As Ben Swift, bereavement and mortuary services manager Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust, told Hospital Bulletin: “The whole department has been given a new look, it’s far more spacious, with better working conditions, greatly increased storage capacity and all within the same area we had before. “There had been no investment in the department since the hospital was built in the 80’s. There was no flow to the design, it was hard to have designated clean and dirty transition rooms, there were two ceramic tables in the PM area, and a 48-capacity body store that had cramped and difficult working conditions. The whole environment did not suit the type of

Innovative: the custom made PM tables

patients we now receive, and we were regularly having to complete incident forms because equipment was failing. “It is to the credit of the cellular pathology manager and the deputy director of nursing that that the board recognised the need for investment. The deputy director of nursing had produced a budget figure of just under £1million for the update and refurbishment programme to bring the facility up to date - and it’s all been achieved within that initial figure.”

Ben said: “Graham Cotterell, the project manager from the trust’s estates department, was very keen to ensure that the scheme fulfilled all the trust’s requirements and introduced Ben to specialist hospital build company, AFL Architects, who had previously worked on mortuaries. AFL asked what we had in mind and came up with the initial plan.” During his career Ben has worked on behalf of the Home Office planning for major incidents stockpiles of equipment, in disaster victim identification team training and forensic post-mortem support, and been chair of the North West Mortuary Staff Forum – so the views of Ben and his team were involved from this initial concept for the updated facility through all stages as the design was progressed, including project board meetings. These also included the pathology divisional manager, estates, and infection prevention and control. The original department had two ceramic PM tables, and the body store included one bank of fridges for four bariatric patients. Previously two banks of fridges also faced each other in part of the mortuary, with only room for trolley access,

but not for a member of staff to stand behind and work effectively.

Paint, wall surfaces, wash hand basin, lighting, and manual handling were amongst other areas that did not comply with the updated requirements. Office and desk space was at a premium too as the department sought to handle its ever increasing work load. The scheme for the project called for the provision of up-todate, height adjustable post mortem tables and a dramatic increase in the body storage capacity to 62, with an increased allowance for bariatric patients. Within the same overall footprint the design also had to deliver separate showering facilities for male and female members of staff, and an extension and widening of the access corridor as it was proving difficult for bariatric patients to be brought into the department. The adoption of pass-through fridges facilitated clean and dirty segregation, while the removal of poorly utilised room freed-up additional space. This had housed a flat-bed weigh scale that was not user-friendly.

“We went to three companies for costings on the tables and fridges,” explained Ben. “LEEC was the only all-inclusive supplier - others did not have the same all-in-one-package. LEEC’s transfer tray system also flagged-up a reduction in risk to the patient and staff.” Echoing Ben’s comments, Alan Smith, from the trust’s procurement team, explained: “This was a ProCure21 project. We obtained quotes from three different suppliers, and went through all the technical aspects to see who was most suitable to carry out the work for our needs. Some were outsourcing parts of the work to others.

Signature Design: a logo reflects Ben's involvement

“LEEC offered the whole package - manufacture, delivery and installation - and were value for money. They were very professional and all the work was done to a very high standard. We achieved everything we wanted with LEEC.” Once the scheme was underway, with LEEC appointed, Ben got into the detail of the design of the table. As he explained: “I strongly believe you should have a clean PM area to work in, and was keen to have an in-built, hot water basin at the foot of the table for cleanliness, with both left and right handed attachments for the spray, to cover all eventualities without the tube draping over the patient or under the table.

“I’ve worked using LEEC tables before and thought there were one or two areas that could be improved, and when they said they were willing to listen to our issues and work with us I was delighted. “At that point I felt I wanted a wider view of what other technicians thought, and their experiences and advise. Ben used his contacts through the North West Mortuary Managers Staff Forum, which he had been instrumental in establishing, and the organisation’s website, that he had created, to gather information. He also visited other regional facilities.

Teamwork: (left to right) Clare Bennett, Ben Swift and Rebecca Hales

“One of the key points I found was that it was common for technicians who worked with downdraught ventilation tables to suffer from lower back problems due to the extra reach required to lean over the ventilation next to the patient. “I wanted a PM table that would accept all sizes of LEEC’s tray transfer. This was accommodated by the table being designed to the under-width size of the widest tray with runners.

“A built-in incline also ensured that all fluids would drain away.” There is now an ever present reminder of Ben’s involvement in the detailed design of the table, as he explained: “LEEC had, I thought jokingly, mentioned that the finished table would incorporate a Swift design - it was even shown on one of the CAD drawings. I was amazed, but quite proud to see that it was actually included on the final tables.” Ben added: “With more and more larger patients coming through we have to treat them in a respectful and dignified manner. So I felt we should specialise in bariatric too, with tables and

fridges that will take 50 stone bodies, and so increased the capacity, offering support to neighbouring hospitals. The storage capacity has gone from four-high to five-high by utilising LEEC’s Traction Stacking Trolley (TST), of which the department has two, as well as retaining one of the LEEC trolleys it had previously. “LEEC’s TST allows the trolley to safely provide manual handing tasks,” said Ben. “Their fingertip controls make manoeuvring an effortless and a straightforward process. The trolleys also have an in-built weigh scale. “Working with LEEC has gone very well. Certain aspects of the design where a new concept for them, but their turnaround time was fantastic.

“As a department, we’re happy, we feel as though we’ve improved the quality where we’ve done the best for the patient. Now it’s not just us doing our bit - the build is contributing too.” “Another compliment from the Human Tissue Authority was on the quality of our training records. At my request, LEEC also provided certified training to all relevant members of the trust staff – cellular pathology, portering service and mortuary.” Completing the scheme, the office is now more spacious and includes CCTV of the fridge room and remote temperature control. “All too often you see the staff who work in the mortuary, the APTs (anatomical pathology technologists), are overlooked in the design of a new facility. The pathologist may be involved, but

not the team who work there 9-to-5,” concluded Ben. “We feel very lucky and appreciative that we were involved at all levels, that we’ve been listened too, and our views incorporated in the final result.” For further information, call LEEC on 0115 961 6222 or visit www.leec.co.uk

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