❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding the State Mortuary upgrade, outsourcing of storage, and protocols for coronial cases stored externally. The Minister confirms the upgrade is underway, outsourcing occurs, and strict protocols are in place.
AnsweredQoN 134Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
STATE MORTUARY —
UPGRADE
134. Hon
MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for
Health:
I refer to mortuary storage and
resourcing.
(1) Have the
upgrades to the State Mortuary commenced, how much money has been spent to
date, and when are those upgrades expected to be completed?
(2) Is it correct
that the State Mortuary has at times had to outsource storage to private
mortuaries or temporary facilities?
(3) Have there
been any instances in which bodies subject to coronial examination have been
stored outside of state-run facilities?
(4) If yes to (3),
what protocols have been put in place to ensure that the integrity of any
examination and inquiry is maintained?
UPGRADE
134. Hon
MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for
Health:
I refer to mortuary storage and
resourcing.
(1) Have the
upgrades to the State Mortuary commenced, how much money has been spent to
date, and when are those upgrades expected to be completed?
(2) Is it correct
that the State Mortuary has at times had to outsource storage to private
mortuaries or temporary facilities?
(3) Have there
been any instances in which bodies subject to coronial examination have been
stored outside of state-run facilities?
(4) If yes to (3),
what protocols have been put in place to ensure that the integrity of any
examination and inquiry is maintained?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) Y es, the upgrade to the State Mortuary commenced on
10 January 2022. Stage 1, which includes demolition , cabling and
plumbing works is being completed, with a spend to date, January 2022, of $700 000.
The upgrade is expected to be complete by March 2023.
(2) Since January 2020, a service
level agreement has been in place between PathWest and InvoCare.
(3) Yes.
(4) The secure
facility PathWest utilises at InvoCare is a single standalone purpose-built
cool room for PathWest use. This room is not used by InvoCare. There is a strict
selection process for bodies sent to InvoCare.
All cases are vetted and approved by the coroner's office and bodies
can be sent to InvoCare only when all post-mortem investigations are
complete; bodies have been identified; no deaths were in care; and there were
no criminal cases. In addition, bodies are prepared and released from the State
Mortuary by PathWest staff; bodies are
admitted at InvoCare by PathWest staff; and bodies are released from InvoCare by PathWest staff.
of the question.
(1) Y es, the upgrade to the State Mortuary commenced on
10 January 2022. Stage 1, which includes demolition , cabling and
plumbing works is being completed, with a spend to date, January 2022, of $700 000.
The upgrade is expected to be complete by March 2023.
(2) Since January 2020, a service
level agreement has been in place between PathWest and InvoCare.
(3) Yes.
(4) The secure
facility PathWest utilises at InvoCare is a single standalone purpose-built
cool room for PathWest use. This room is not used by InvoCare. There is a strict
selection process for bodies sent to InvoCare.
All cases are vetted and approved by the coroner's office and bodies
can be sent to InvoCare only when all post-mortem investigations are
complete; bodies have been identified; no deaths were in care; and there were
no criminal cases. In addition, bodies are prepared and released from the State
Mortuary by PathWest staff; bodies are
admitted at InvoCare by PathWest staff; and bodies are released from InvoCare by PathWest staff.
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