What happens to people after they die in hospital

[Unsureif]

I don't know what's made me wonder this morning. A few years ago my DM died in hospital. We said our goodbyes and left her in the room, looking like she was sleeping. The hospital was fairly busy during this time, think it was visiting hours.

What will have happened after we left? Will they have treated her as if she were still alive, talked to her? Do they really cover up their faces? And how are they taken to the morgue?

Just want to know. Really missing DM.

[BlondieBrownie]

I know that the first thing they do is wash the body, everyone I know who works in a hospital also opens a window so that the spirit can be 'set free'.

They are treated with absolute respect and nothing less.

[Piratejones]

Sorry for your loss, and for being very blunt.

[ImperialBlether]

That must be very comforting for the op to hear, pirate.

My sister was a nurse and I know she would have given a great deal of care to your mum. I am so sorry for your loss. Do you have anyone to talk to in real life?

[sewingandcakes]

When I was on a placement in hospital, we washed the gentleman who had died, I think we dressed him in some clean white sheets, and then the staff from the mortuary in the hospital came to take him. I think we spoke to him a little, we were certainly respectful and weren't chatting about our lunch over him.

I'm sorry for your loss OP

[JudysPriest]

I've known a few junior doctors and they all said the kept a 'bedside manner' as such " Now Mr Smith, just going to take you downstairs".

There's a Mner who spoke of when she is washing and preparing a body she will natter on to them as she moves them if I recall correctly. My Dad's nurse spoke to him (we where there) as she prepared him.

I've been in hospital when someone died, the shut all the ward doors and they went down the corridor so no one was gawping or distressed.

[Unsureif]

Well my blood ran cold and I just burst into tears, so thanks for that, pirate. I was doing ok. I was just curious.

Thanks everyone. I do miss her so much. But I really am ok generally. I just feel like I want to know what happened to her after I left her.

[Charlie01234]

Fgs pirate.
When a friend of mine died the nursing staff washed and dressed her, talking to her all the time. They were very caring

[Piratejones]

ImperialBlether

I apologised in the post above, there is not a lot more I can do is there.

[AtYourCervix]

I used to talk to people, so did pretty much every nurse I worked with. And open the window.

People were washed, clean cotton gown put on, wrapped on a sheet. Then the porters would come and put them in a special trolley and take them downstairs to the mortuary. Undertakers collect them from there.

[littlegreengloworm]

I was a carer many years ago and we did speak to the patient. It was very very respectful.

We lit candles and prayed for her (same religion). This was in a nursing home.

I certainly think your mother would have been looked after very well and treated without the up,ost respect op.

hope you can get through this pain. Xxx

[Piratejones]

Well my blood ran cold and I just burst into tears, so thanks for that, pirate.

There is nothing wrong with being covered after you die, It's much more respectful than everyone seeing you.

[Captainbarnacles1101]

We always

[BrianTheMole]

The staff did talk to my df when he died. Don't think they were putting it on for show because I was there. They seemed genuinely caring and respectful. Sorry about your loss op.

[Needadvice5]

Very reassuring pirate FFS.


I'm an A+E sister and can 100% reassure you that we do talk to all of our deceased patients. We apologise to them for having to move them as we dress them in a shroud etc.

There is a strict rule that staff don't talk about their private lives or chat whilst dealing with a deceased patient, it's massively disrespectful.

Hope that provides you with a little reassure x

[Cookiepants]

I am a nurse and I work in a critical care unit. After someone has died, we wash the body and dress them in fresh linens. They are then transferred to the morgue on a special covered stretcher by the porters. All my colleagues and I talk to them throughout 'Mrs Smith we are just going to wash your face etc etc'. In short we treat them with all the care and respect we would a living person. Usually we have had a few days to get I know them and their families and this is the way that feels right.

Caring for someone up to and after they pass away is often the very last kindness you can do someone so it is important to get right.

Sorry for the loss of your mother. She will have been well looked after.

[BrianTheMole]

Maybe so pirate, but its the way you put your post across. Not nice of you.

[BrianTheMole]

I'm an A+E sister and can 100% reassure you that we do talk to all of our deceased patients. We apologise to them for having to move them as we dress them in a shroud etc.

Yes it was exactly like that with my dad.

[PinkiePromise]

If it was very busy and your DM had been in a private room then she may have been left for a little while, but not too long. Last Offices are performed which involves washing the body, removing anything like cannula so which the patient may have had to have, placing them in a clean gown, brushing hair, and give clean sheets. I would try and leave them as though they are peacefully sleeping. I ALWAYS talk to my patients while I do this, I often cry a little bit too, especially if I knew the patient well. The very first time I did this as a student nurse I was with a much older nurse who told me that this was the last kind thing that we could do for a patient so it was important to do it as respectfully as possible.
We would phone the porters who bring a special trolley which is a bit like a box that the body can be placed into and a sheet is placed over the top so that to most people they would not be aware that a body would be wheeled past them. We close the doors of the patient bays as the body is being wheeled past as a mark of respect too.
I am so sorry for the loss of you DM

[Piratejones]

Maybe so pirate, but its the way you put your post across. Not nice of you.

I know... funny how people read the post but not the apology underneath.

[gymboywalton]

when a lady died in the bed opposite mine, when i was in hospital, the staff placed flowers in her hands. They drew the curtains round everybody's beds so noone could gawk.

[Captainbarnacles1101]

I work in PICU and we always chat to the kiddies as we washed them
and removed their lines etc. we always move them
To a side room to allow family to have private time. Even if they were there for a long while with no family we would always go in periodically and just say something like (ok wee woman?) probably for our own comfort! But also if the family didn't want the child to be alone we would try as far as possible to have someone in their with them most of the time.

I have NEVER seen a dead person put in a store room in 25 years of nursing. NEVER!

[SecretSpy]

I'm a nurse.
Every time I have washed/laid out someone who has died all the staff still talk to them, - just roll this way Fred, I'll just put this on you Fred etc.
We make sure there are clear labels to identify them and send any valuables to the safe and write down what jewellery they are wearing etc watch or wedding ring.
Then porters take them to the mortuary on a special trolley and the funeral director collects them from there for the funeral/ to go to the chapel of rest at the funeral home.

[Crazeeladee]

Yes, they do talk to them, they talk as they wash them, saying things like "let's just roll you over mrs bloggs, and get a clean sheet on". They treat them as though they are alive and with a lot of care and respect. The porters then come with a trolley, the body has been wrapped in sheets, and is then carefully transferred into the trolley, which has a kid, and is covered with a sheet. Please don't worry, she will have been treated well x

[Piratejones]

I have NEVER seen a dead person put in a store room in 25 years of nursing. NEVER!

private room / quiet room.... storage room...

yes very blunt very poor choice of words.