A WA parliamentary question seeks data on unclaimed bodies in Perth metropolitan morgues, including numbers, duration held, and actions taken. The Minister for Health provides a detailed breakdown by hospital and outlines referral processes to WA Police and the Public Trustee.

AnsweredQoN 1152Legislative Council
Asked
18 November 2009
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

METROPOLITAN MORGUES — UNCLAIMED BODIES
(1) Can the minister advise how many bodies are being held as at 17 November 2009 in each of the following morgue facilities: Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital, Joondalup hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? (2) Of those, how many bodies are unclaimed? (3) For what period has each of these unclaimed bodies been held in the morgue? (4) What action is being taken to address each of these cases? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for notice of the question and can provide this answer — (1) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, four; at Joondalup Health Campus, nil; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 54. (2) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, nil; at Joondalup Health Campus, not applicable; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 39. (3) For Royal Perth Hospital, the duration unclaimed is one for 23 weeks, and one body for eight weeks; for Fremantle Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus, it is not applicable; and for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, two bodies have been unclaimed for more than 12 months, nine since the end of September 2009, four since the end of October 2009, and the remainder between 1 November and today, 18 November 2009. (4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.
(2) Of those, how many bodies are unclaimed? (3) For what period has each of these unclaimed bodies been held in the morgue? (4) What action is being taken to address each of these cases? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for notice of the question and can provide this answer — (1) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, four; at Joondalup Health Campus, nil; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 54. (2) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, nil; at Joondalup Health Campus, not applicable; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 39. (3) For Royal Perth Hospital, the duration unclaimed is one for 23 weeks, and one body for eight weeks; for Fremantle Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus, it is not applicable; and for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, two bodies have been unclaimed for more than 12 months, nine since the end of September 2009, four since the end of October 2009, and the remainder between 1 November and today, 18 November 2009. (4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.
(3) For what period has each of these unclaimed bodies been held in the morgue? (4) What action is being taken to address each of these cases? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for notice of the question and can provide this answer — (1) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, four; at Joondalup Health Campus, nil; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 54. (2) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, nil; at Joondalup Health Campus, not applicable; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 39. (3) For Royal Perth Hospital, the duration unclaimed is one for 23 weeks, and one body for eight weeks; for Fremantle Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus, it is not applicable; and for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, two bodies have been unclaimed for more than 12 months, nine since the end of September 2009, four since the end of October 2009, and the remainder between 1 November and today, 18 November 2009. (4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.
(4) What action is being taken to address each of these cases? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for notice of the question and can provide this answer — (1) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, four; at Joondalup Health Campus, nil; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 54. (2) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, nil; at Joondalup Health Campus, not applicable; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 39. (3) For Royal Perth Hospital, the duration unclaimed is one for 23 weeks, and one body for eight weeks; for Fremantle Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus, it is not applicable; and for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, two bodies have been unclaimed for more than 12 months, nine since the end of September 2009, four since the end of October 2009, and the remainder between 1 November and today, 18 November 2009. (4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for notice of the question and can provide this answer — (1) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, four; at Joondalup Health Campus, nil; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 54. (2) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, nil; at Joondalup Health Campus, not applicable; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 39. (3) For Royal Perth Hospital, the duration unclaimed is one for 23 weeks, and one body for eight weeks; for Fremantle Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus, it is not applicable; and for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, two bodies have been unclaimed for more than 12 months, nine since the end of September 2009, four since the end of October 2009, and the remainder between 1 November and today, 18 November 2009. (4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.
I thank the honourable member for notice of the question and can provide this answer — (1) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, four; at Joondalup Health Campus, nil; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 54. (2) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, nil; at Joondalup Health Campus, not applicable; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 39. (3) For Royal Perth Hospital, the duration unclaimed is one for 23 weeks, and one body for eight weeks; for Fremantle Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus, it is not applicable; and for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, two bodies have been unclaimed for more than 12 months, nine since the end of September 2009, four since the end of October 2009, and the remainder between 1 November and today, 18 November 2009. (4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.
(1) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, four; at Joondalup Health Campus, nil; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 54. (2) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, nil; at Joondalup Health Campus, not applicable; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 39. (3) For Royal Perth Hospital, the duration unclaimed is one for 23 weeks, and one body for eight weeks; for Fremantle Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus, it is not applicable; and for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, two bodies have been unclaimed for more than 12 months, nine since the end of September 2009, four since the end of October 2009, and the remainder between 1 November and today, 18 November 2009. (4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.
(2) At Royal Perth Hospital, it is two; at Fremantle Hospital, nil; at Joondalup Health Campus, not applicable; and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, 39. (3) For Royal Perth Hospital, the duration unclaimed is one for 23 weeks, and one body for eight weeks; for Fremantle Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus, it is not applicable; and for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, two bodies have been unclaimed for more than 12 months, nine since the end of September 2009, four since the end of October 2009, and the remainder between 1 November and today, 18 November 2009. (4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.
(3) For Royal Perth Hospital, the duration unclaimed is one for 23 weeks, and one body for eight weeks; for Fremantle Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus, it is not applicable; and for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, two bodies have been unclaimed for more than 12 months, nine since the end of September 2009, four since the end of October 2009, and the remainder between 1 November and today, 18 November 2009. (4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.
(4) The management of the unclaimed bodies is referred to either the WA Police or the Public Trustee’s office to progress.

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