(CNS): The Health Services Authority morgue has reopened following upgrades that bring the facility in line with modern safety and international mortuary standards. The renovations have also increased capacity, improved chain-of-custody controls, and enhanced support for legally sensitive and coroner’s cases, officials said in a press release.
The upgraded facility now has a large, walk-in morgue cooler with capacity for 30 bodies, a significant increase on the previous six-body capacity. As well as an upgraded autopsy suite, enhanced security and access controls, the improved temperature-controlled storage and infrastructure will make for safer and more efficient operations.
“The previous six-body capacity was no longer sufficient,” said Consultant Pathologist Dr Shravana Jyoti. “The expansion was required because of the Cayman Islands’ growing population and the corresponding increase in demand for secure body storage and post-mortem examinations. The new morgue storage area will provide additional capacity should there be a mass casualty event,” he added.
The HSA-operated morgue serves a broader national function, supporting organisations across the Cayman Islands. “It supports cases involving the Coroner, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, law-enforcement agencies, medical professionals and other authorised public bodies,” Jyoti stated.
HSA CEO Lizzette Yearwood said the morgue expansion is a strategic investment in the future of Cayman’s healthcare. It ensures the Health Services Authority has the “capacity and infrastructure required to support a growing population and evolving healthcare demands”, she said.
“As a critical component of the healthcare system, the expanded facility will enhance HSA’s ability to serve the hospital and the wider community with dignity, compassion and respect, while strengthening the country’s readiness for future growth,” Yearwood added.