Pressure on hospital beds means that when patients die they often have to be moved quickly from their beds, preventing their families from being able to say goodbye in a dignified manner, according to a new report.
The report, based on the views of staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, also found that lack of space means there is often nowhere to bring families to break bad news. The result is that this often has to occur in "crowded corridors".
Lack of space also means that patients can be left to die in six-bed wards, causing distress to other patients. "An example was given of a man dying in a public ward with his family around him but a football match commentary blaring in the background. This can appear very insensitive and callous to families."
Staff also felt that appropriate procedures for dealing with the body of the person immediately after death (e.g. closing the eyes and mouth) were not always observed.
"The reality reported was that frequently beds have to be cleared very soon after death - the hospital is literally waiting for a bed to deal with an emergency admission.
"This means that families may not be able to say their goodbyes in a dignified manner, and may be hurt and offended and further traumatised as a result."
The report, Dying and Death in an Acute Hospital: Exploring the Views and Experiences of Hospital Staff, was initiated by the Irish Hospice Foundation, which believes that the findings are not unique to the Drogheda hospital.
The foundation wants the issues raised to be acted on. It points out that they affect many families since more than half of all deaths recorded in Ireland each year occur in hospitals.