It includes a site in Northamptonshire
Bodies are being stored in makeshift morgues to deal with a backlog of deaths over the winter months as the NHS struggles to cope and hospitals reach full capacity. Temporary mortuary sites are being opened up across the UK in a bid to deal with increased demand following a deadly festive period.
In Northamptonshire, Wollaston Mortuary, which was used during the pandemic, has been ‘reactivated’ as part of the county's 'death management activation plan'. Named The Leys, it consists of two large cold rooms with mortuary-level racking, an office, and a covered reception area for discreet transport to and from the site.
He said: “We reopened our doors to cope with the festive period, over the last two or three years we have done so. The mortuary here can hold up to 200 bodies and we will stay open as long as we are required to do so, which will probably be about another six weeks. In this time, we will stay in contact with the two hospitals so we know what is going on and how long we will be needed to stay open for.
"During the previous two winters, The Leys facility in Wollaston has opened to support both Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals with mortuary capacity during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. Winter is a time when respiratory illnesses increase, and this year it has been predicted that there will be a higher number of illnesses circulating.
Since the opening, the site has been activated several times for eight-week periods and the facility has also been used by neighbouring Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes. Currently, Northampton General Hospital mortuary has space for 146 bodies and Kettering General Hospital has room for 103 after additional racking was installed to increase capacity.
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