Barbara Peters gives an insight into why the mortuary isn't the dark place many people imagine

Most people are tucking into their breakfast when I start work on the first autopsy of the day at around 7am, at St George's hospital, London. The mortuary is a busy place so we like to start early and check any overnight arrivals left by the hospital porters or designated funeral director.

A straight forward post-mortem takes around 30 minutes and our job is to assist the pathologist in determining cause of death.

We record the height and weight of each person then remove and bag their clothing and personal effects. Jewellery is always left on the body.

I have found some odd things on bodies over the years, including drugs, hypodermic needles and rolls of bank notes sewn inside a woman's bra.

We conduct up to five post-mortems per morning and, due to the nature of our work, do all the post-op cleaning ourselves.

The pathologist will carry out an external examination first to see if there are any clues indicating cause of death. This includes obvious things like a stab or gunshot wound, and unusual abrasions or cuts.

I eviscerate the body and remove the main organs for the pathologist and then 'reconstitute' the deceased and wash, dry and rewrap them in a fresh shroud once the examination is complete.

We usually listen to the radio while working and chat about everyday things, but we always treat the deceased with respect.

I've seen pretty much everything there is to see in my 10 years as a mortuary technician, from accidental deaths through drowning and fire to traffic road accidents, suicides and murders.

I still remember my first autopsy; she was an older woman who had died of pneumonia. I remember a surreal detachment descending on me while watching the procedure.

It might seem cold, but it is just a natural protective mechanism to help you cope. I've carried out hundreds of autopsies since and work on auto-pilot with my emotions in check.

The work of a mortuary technician is not for the faint-hearted, but neither is it the cold clinical world that is often misrepresented in TV dramas.

Mortuaries have a long standing reputation for being dark, creepy places populated by ghoulish individuals. In reality, mortuary technicians are just like everyone else and we work hard to ensure that, for visiting relatives, it is a place of warmth, respect and dignity.

St George's is also a regional perinatal centre for south London and south-east England and I assist the pathologist in around 600 cases a year, including premature and still births.

I weigh, measure and take x-rays of the children, including washing and redressing them after the autopsy.

I encourage parents to come in and see their babies including holding them and, where appropriate, washing and redressing them. It's an important part of the healing process and allows them to spend time with their child before saying goodbye.

I am also clear about explaining what procedure the child has undergone so they know why we have done an autopsy and ensure incision marks are covered with tape or bandages. Parents appreciate candour and the fact that their child is being looked after.

The job isn't for everyone, but there has been a noticeable rise in the number of female technicians in what used to be a male dominated profession. Care, compassion and understanding are all important attributes in my line of work.

Our afternoons are usually set aside for viewings and paperwork; it's surprising how much of the latter accompanies a person's departure from life.

My day finishes at around 4.30pm when I hand all 13 of the mortuary keys into security. I usually shake off the day's work on the 20 minute walk home and relax with my partner and daughter.

Oh, didn't I mention him? He's an undertaker.

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