A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the number of bodies held in various morgue facilities across the state, including unclaimed bodies and those awaiting funeral cost arrangements. The response provides specific figures and actions taken.

AnsweredQoN 3484Legislative Council
Asked
22 February 2011
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

(1) How many bodies were being held as at 10 November 2010 in the following morgue facilities, -
(a) Broome;
(b) Derby;
(c) Kununurra;
(d) Port Hedland;
(e) Tom Price;
(f) Newman;
(g) Nickol Bay;
(h) Carnarvon;
(i) Wickham;
(j) Kalgoorlie; and
(k) Esperance?
(2) Of those referred to in (1), -
(a) how many bodies are unclaimed; and
(b) how many have been unable to transfer to a funeral director because no-one is able to pay the funeral costs?
(3) For what period of time has each of these unclaimed bodies been held in the morgue?
(4) What action is being taken to address each of these cases?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
5 April 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
42 days
(1)(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 2
(d) 3
(e - i) Nil.
(j) 4
(k) 16
(2)(a) Port Hedland - 1
Kalgoorlie - 1
(b) Port Hedland - Nil.
Kalgoorlie  - 1
(3) Port Hedland - eight days from 10 to 18 November 2010. The body was released on the 18 November 2010.
Kalgoorlie Hospital - as at 10 November 2010, the body was held for 2 days. In total the body was held for 20 days prior to being claimed.
(4) Port Hedland - the delay was due to the paperwork being incomplete for the Hedland Health Campus to release the body. Mortuary procedures were reviewed and updated to ensure staff are well informed about current practice.
Kalgoorlie Hospital - this had been referred to the Public Trustees.
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