A spokeswoman for Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry has apologised to the family of a mother of four who died in hospital over the Christmas period after she had been moved from a ward for terminally ill patients to a treatment room which is also used as a storeroom.
The hospital also confirmed yesterday that it was not the first time that medical staff had been forced to move a terminally ill patient into the medical supplies storeroom.
The woman's husband, who wishes to remain anonymous, complained that the constant use of the room by medical and nursing staff as his wife was dying was insensitive.
Mark Durkan MP, who has discussed the issue with members of the hospital's senior management team, said more storage capacity was needed at the hospital.
"It was a very distressing time for the woman and for her family and indeed for the medical and nursing staff and it's not the first time this has happened," he said.