A refrigeration breakdown has forced Paphos General Hospital’s mortuary to suspend operations from May 22 until June 3, or until the fault is repaired, the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) has announced.
Bodies already held at the mortuary have been secured and are being kept in appropriate conditions, the SHSO said. For new cases, families will be notified immediately and asked to arrange transfer of the deceased to a licensed funeral home for storage and preparation.
Where families are unable to make immediate arrangements, Paphos General Hospital will take the necessary steps to ensure the body is stored safely and in appropriate conditions.
All standard procedures for the management of the facility remain in place, including services for families and other involved parties, the SHSO said.
All post-mortems will be conducted at Nicosia General Hospital’s mortuary, which serves as the reference centre. The SHSO said this would not obstruct any procedure or create additional burden. The decision was taken by the Forensic Medicine Service in line with best practice.
Read more: