I had the misfortune to visit the mortuary last week Sunday at the Port of Spain hospital to identify the body of a relative.

The condition in the hospital did not help ease my distress in any way. There were no directional signs. I asked a guard who directed me along a walkway, either side of which were heaps of rubbish. Not a very pleasant sight for distressed and grieving relatives!

I had some difficulty in finding the actual building as there were no signs directing me to the area.

Elderly people in such distress often have urgent need to use the toilet. Here, the facilities were in a disgusting state — no soap, towels or tissue in the toilets.

There should be a sign to indicate what days and times the mortuary is open.

I had to return to the hospital on Monday. As I drove into the hospital car park, I was stopped by a security guard who wanted to know the reason for my visit. I told him I was going to the mortuary. He told me I couldn't park there as the car park was not for people going to the mortuary but for people visiting the sick and that I had to park on the road.

Can you imagine that? The security guard couldn't be more callous! Are these people even human? What have we become? Isn't there a shred of compassion or caring left in us?

One would have thought that more consideration and care would be shown to people in mourning. Offers of sympathy would help and not go amiss.

Also, it would be a great idea if a counsellor were there to talk and console persons who have lost loved ones. This is done in the UK when there is loss of life. Why not here?

R Prince

Diego Martin