A new public website listing the identities of remains in cold storage at the Health Sciences Centre should be up and running by the end of the week.

The news was relayed today during a media briefing hosted by NL Health Services CEO Dr. Pat Parfrey, V-P of Transformation Health Systems Cassie Chisholm, and Ron Johnson, vice-president and Chief Operating Officer for NL Health Services’ Eastern-Urban zone.

Asked for an update on the number of unclaimed bodies now at the hospital, officials said it’s currently at 26, roughly what it’s been for the past year.

But they say they expect that number to decline as new legislation, enacted in January, is applied and takes effect.

That includes the new public website that anyone can check, with the site address to be released later this week.

Once a person dies, officials will have 14 days of “due diligence” to find someone to claim the remains. If there’s no progress, the name goes on the website for five days. And if still no one comes forward, a “dignified, respectful” burial will take place after consultations with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

A tender has been let for a funeral home to partner with government to conduct those burials, and should be in place by June 13, said Johnson.

He was asked if he thought the number of unclaimed bodies will continue to be an issue.

“No, I don’t. I think the new regulation and the process in place, the new facilities (morgue), all of it together, we should be able to do it better and quicker.”