A north-east mortuary is in line for a £300,000 revamp to foster “a more pleasant atmosphere” for grieving families.
NHS Grampian has submitted plans for an extension to the outdated facility near Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Proposed changes include a new entrance, staff facilities, toilets, waiting area, interview room, store and a dividing screen within the viewing chapel.
It forms part of an ambitious £150million transformation of the Foresterhill Campus.
Money for the scheduled improvements will come from the Endowment Fund which manages donations and bequests made to the health board.
Sheena Lonchay, operational manager of the fund, said: “It’s a building that dates back to 1935 and the facilities are not what the public would expect.
“Obviously, at times of bereavement, we would prefer people to have a more pleasant environment.
“Access for people with disabilities will also be improved.
“The corridors are very narrow and the entrance area is very narrow. There is not really a waiting room or a proper place for families to gather.
“Really, we need to make it a lot more comfortable for people at that difficult time.”
The move was welcomed by a Moray widow who has campaigned for better facilities after being shocked by conditions at another facility.
Maryan Whyte called for inspections and improvements after visiting the Spynie mortuary, near Elgin, to identify the body of her husband, who died in a boating accident at Findhorn Bay in May.
NHS Grampian – which subsequently moved family visits away from Spynie – confirmed the Aberdeen changes had been planned for some time prior to that incident.
Mrs Whyte, who has taken her campaign to the Scottish Parliament, added: “It is good to know that something is going forward to improve matters.
“This is the beginning of changes, but it is still slow. It’s also a matter of changing procedures and practices.
“Locally in Moray, these sort of changes are starting to happen.”
Family viewings there now take place at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin on a temporary basis and she is working with the Mortuary for Moray planning group on longer-term solutions.
She expressed her hope the Spynie mortuary would “just be closed and demolished”.
