The Health Services Authority’s (HSA) morgue has reopened following renovation upgrades that bring the facility in line with modern safety and international mortuary standards, increase capacity, improve chain-of-custody controls, and enhance support for legally sensitive and coroner’s cases.
The upgraded facility now has a large, walk-in morgue cooler with capacity for 30 bodies, an upgraded autopsy suite, enhanced security and access controls, and improved temperature-controlled storage and infrastructure that improves safer, more efficient operations.
“The previous six-body capacity was no longer sufficient,” highlighted 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.”
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,” noted Dr Shravana Jyoti.
“The morgue expansion is a strategic investment in the future of healthcare in the Cayman Islands, ensuring the Health Services Authority has the capacity and infrastructure required to support a growing population and evolving healthcare demands,” stated HSA’s CEO Ms Lizzette Yearwood.
“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.”