Legislated processes put in place last year to address unclaimed remains are “working effectively” according to NL Health Services.

Back in May, NLHS started a website listing the names of deceased who, for one reason or another, had not been claimed by family members for burial.

The website was just part of a process that was brought in last year following public shock and outrage over the use of temporary freezers to hold what at the time was as many as 26 unclaimed bodies.

After an extensive search of patient records and “all reasonable attempts” made to identify and contact next of kin, NLHS has the ability to post an online public notice for 5 days, after which time, it is able to lay any remains that are still unclaimed to rest in a respectful manner.

Since the website went live and the changes were implemented, only a small number of names have appeared online since the initial list was released.