NL Health Services says it will construct a permanent storage unit at the Health Sciences to preserve human remains in limbo while going through the public trustee process.
It’s been revealed that long-term unclaimed bodies are being stored in freezer units outside the hospital in St. John’s.
NL Health Services won’t say how many bodies are being stored in the units “out of respect for the families.”
The health authority says a process is initiated when a person’s remains are unclaimed from a health care facility in the province. That includes determining next of kin. If that process fails to result in the remains being claimed, then an application is submitted to have a public trustee assigned to the estate.
Once a public trustee is assigned, then the remains are transferred to a funeral home for final arrangements.
Work is now underway to establish a permanent storage area to replace the freezer units.
Health Minister Tom Osborne
Meanwhile, Health Minister Tom Osborne both says he was unaware that freezer units were being used to store unclaimed bodies until he read about it in the media. Children, Seniors, and Social Development Minister Paul Pike, meanwhile, was made aware of the situation during a meeting on February 16th.
When questioned about the location of the freezers, which are in close proximity to a dumpster, Osborne calls that “disturbing” but he understands that the Health Authority is looking at a more permanent solution.
Minister Paul Pike. Photo via CPAC.
Pike says work is ongoing within the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development to review the rates paid to funeral homes for coverage of costs of basic funeral services. The department says the full cost of basic services is covered and no additional cost is required for people in receipt of income support or those who financially qualify, unless the person decides to purchase additional services beyond the basic coverage.
The Department will be consulting funeral home operators as part of its review scheduled to begin next month.
Families requiring help with funeral costs are asked to contact a Client Services Officers by calling 877-729-7888 or by email incomesupport@gov.nl.ca.
PC Leader Tony Wakeham calls the use of freezers outside the Health Sciences “deplorable” and disrespectful to families and those who have been lost.
He says government needs to be focused on “[completing] that circle of life” to make sure families aren’t ending up in such a situation to begin with. He suggests looking at increases to death benefits and help with burials.
