Mobile mortuaries to deal with swine flu pandemic

Published on Sunday 13 September 2009 22:09

BODIES may be stored in mobile mortuaries under Scottish Government plans to deal with any "worsening situation" brought about by swine flu.

Ministers say they must be ready to deal with a pandemic and are believed to be tendering for companies to supply the refrigerated units amid fears the worst is yet to come.

There are concerns mortuary capacity in Scotland may not be sufficient to cope with the number of bodies in the worst-case scenarios envisaged.

A spokeswoman said:

"Planning is a part of normal government and we are working with a range of partners to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for any worsening situation.

"One aspect of this is the need to address the possibility of additional deaths above the normal level and thus the requirement for very short-term storage of bodies."

Any swine flu pandemic is expected to cross the country in a wave, with different times and areas seeing their own peaks.

Mobile mortuaries would travel the country to be used where there was most demand.