A new $1.1 million state-of-the-art morgue has been opened at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital bringing to an end temporary arrangements which had included bodies being stored in refrigerated containers.

The new basement facility replaces the former morgue that was built more than 40 years ago.

It includes a quiet family room where relatives and friends can gather to identify or view the body of a deceased loved one.

Because of the population growth seen on the Island in the intervening decades it was necessary to increase the size of the morgue and its storage capacity by 80 percent.

Maintaining the dignity and privacy of the deceased and their families was the top priority of the hospital during the transition period between the old morgue closing and the new one opening, said Joan Dillas-Wright, chief executive of the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

She added: "This new morgue is the result of years of planning, hard work and some setbacks. We faced a few challenges during the renovations.

"We want to put the community's mind at ease. Great efforts we made to make this facility as comfortable as possible for families and relatives. We have endeavoured to create an atmosphere more like a home."

Work on the morgue started last June, and in November concerns were raised in the media about the temporary use of outside refrigerators to store some bodies that could not be put in the morgue during the renovations.

Bermuda Public Service Union general secretary Ed Ball, who once worked in the old morgue when he was on the hospital staff, later defended that arrangement as a necessary interim measure and said it was unfair of people to criticise and sensationalise the hospital for taking such action when it had no other option.

Chief of pathology Dr. Kered James, told invited guests at the opening: "The mortuary is an area that most people don't want to visit and they find it is easy to forget it exists. But for those of us who work here we realise what a vital part this facility is."

She pointed out the peaceful and calm area were families can wait and view a relative and the state-of-art autopsy room, which includes a down-draught table and nine-body cooling chamber.

Health Minister Patrice Minors paid tribute to the hospital staff, BHB and workers who had been involved in the project.

She had arrived by elevator in the basement to see the new morgue and initially did not think she was in the right place such was the transformation that has been carried out.

Referring to the scrutiny the temporary morgue arrangements came under, she said: "It has not been easy for the past few months because of the stories out there asking 'why this and why that' but at the end of the day we can make it known to the public that all the work was for this day."

And before he gave a blessing to the new facility Rev. Eugene Joell lightened proceedings by noting: "It is a blessing to be in this area (the morgue) and be standing around and laughing."