Latest news with #NLHealthServices
CBC
27-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Process to bury unclaimed bodies will be 'seamless,' says NLHS
Four months after legislation came into effect to speed up the process of burying dozens of unclaimed bodies that are being held in freezers at a hospital in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador's health authority says the plan is nearly ready. Earlier this month, CBC News reported Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services hadn't buried a single body since legislation came into effect. "What's held it up is, really, us mobilizing around the new regulations, getting all the processes in place," Ron Johnson, chief operating officer of the NLHS eastern-urban zone, told reporters on Monday. Johnson said NLHS has issued a tender in search of a funeral home to partner with the health authority to handle the burials. The tender closes on June 10, and he expects it to be awarded before June 13. Johnson said he anticipates the burials will be a "seamless process." WATCH | Here are the steps that must be taken to try and identify an unclaimed body: New website to help connect unclaimed remains and next of kin online soon, says NLHS 13 hours ago Duration 1:16 There is a new process when it comes to burying unclaimed bodies in Newfoundland and Labrador. While legislation came into effect at the start of this year, there have been no burials. But as the CBC's Elizabeth Whitten reports, the province's health authority vows that is changing. According to the amended legislation, which was filed on Dec. 24 and came into effect on Jan. 1, NLHS has the power to bury unclaimed bodies after two weeks of searching for next of kin and then five days after the person is posted on a dedicated website. Johnson said the health authority will then work with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to validate they have done their due diligence in trying to find the next of kin. "And then we can do a proper burial that's with dignity and respect," he said. Website launch The website meant to help connect families with their deceased loved ones is expected to launch this week, as per the legislation. The site will be publicly accessible, contain names and some additional information "to see if anyone is going to come forward," Johnson said. CBC News first reported the health authority was storing bodies in freezer units in an alleyway on hospital property more than a year ago. It was due to a lack of space in the morgue, which doubles as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Over the summer, NLHS relocated the freezers to the hospital's underground parking garage and built a wall around it. The initial story reported that 28 bodies were in storage at the time. As of Monday morning, Johnson said there were 26 bodies in long-term storage. However, he said, he expects there won't be a build up in long-term storage and it won't be a persistent problem. "I think the new regulations and the processes in place, the new facility, all of it together — we should be able to do this better and quicker."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Process to bury unclaimed bodies will be 'seamless,' says NLHS
Four months after legislation came into effect to speed up the process of burying dozens of unclaimed bodies that are being held in freezers at a hospital in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador's health authority says the plan is nearly ready. Earlier this month, CBC News reported Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services hadn't buried a single body since legislation came into effect. "What's held it up is, really, us mobilizing around the new regulations, getting all the processes in place," Ron Johnson, chief operating officer of the NLHS eastern-urban zone, told reporters on Monday. Johnson said NLHS has issued a tender in search of a funeral home to partner with the health authority to handle the burials. The tender closes on June 10, and he expects it to be awarded before June 13. Johnson said he anticipates the burials will be a "seamless process." WATCH | Here are the steps that must be taken to try and identify an unclaimed body: According to the amended legislation, which was filed on Dec. 24 and came into effect on Jan. 1, NLHS has the power to bury unclaimed bodies after two weeks of searching for next of kin and then five days after the person is posted on a dedicated website. Johnson said the health authority will then work with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to validate they have done their due diligence in trying to find the next of kin. "And then we can do a proper burial that's with dignity and respect," he said. The website meant to help connect families with their deceased loved ones is expected to launch this week, as per the legislation. The site will be publicly accessible, contain names and some additional information "to see if anyone is going to come forward," Johnson said. CBC News first reported the health authority was storing bodies in freezer units in an alleyway on hospital property more than a year ago. It was due to a lack of space in the morgue, which doubles as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Over the summer, NLHS relocated the freezers to the hospital's underground parking garage and built a wall around it. The initial story reported that 28 bodies were in storage at the time. As of Monday morning, Johnson said there were 26 bodies in long-term storage. However, he said, he expects there won't be a build up in long-term storage and it won't be a persistent problem. "I think the new regulations and the processes in place, the new facility, all of it together — we should be able to do this better and quicker." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
CBC
26-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Health authority confirms Waterford Hospital will close eventually, but timeline still uncertain
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services acknowledged on Monday that the Waterford Hospital will eventually shut. The building was constructed in 1855, and, until this year, had been the primary location of mental health services in Newfoundland and Labrador ever since. Thousands of patients have been in and out of the hospital during that time, and the facility leads a complex legacy — with many claiming the structure itself is in a state of disrepair. But on Monday, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services CEO Pat Parfrey told reporters the building will close, although there's no set date for that just yet. The closure will happen once the hospital's remaining services find a new home. The psychiatric assessment unit moved to the new Mental Health and Addictions Centre at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's in April. But the Waterford Hospital still offers blood collection and houses offices. WATCH | Waterford Hospital will close once outpatient services find a new home: Waterford Hospital will close, but NLHS says no timeline as to when 24 minutes ago Duration 1:07 The new mental health and addictions centre in St. John's replaces the Waterford Hospital as the go-to place for mental health care. Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services CEO Pat Parfrey said that while some outpatient services still continue there, the building — first opened in 1855 — will close once a suitable home for community care is built. A plan is in the works to build a downtown health and wellbeing centre on the site of the former Grace Hospital, Parfrey said. That building — which is yet to be built — is expected to house outpatient services for psychiatry, a detox centre and will have "the capacity to be able to deal with issues that arise from addictions." The health authority is also looking into the idea of building an urgent care centre downtown, said Parfrey. In the meantime, NLHS is looking to lease a space for different community-based teams.
CBC
16-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
N.L. hasn't buried a single unclaimed body since legislation change in January
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador made a legislation change four months ago meant to tackle the growing number of unclaimed bodies being held in freezer units at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's — but it has yet to bury a single person. According to the amended legislation, which was filed on Dec. 24 and came into effect on Jan. 1, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) has the power to bury unclaimed remains after two weeks of searching for next of kin and then five days after the identity of the person is posted online on a dedicated website. The website also has yet to launch. Health authority spokesperson Mikaela Etchegary told CBC News in an email that work is still ongoing on the legislation and the website. "N.L. Health Services handles unclaimed human remains respectfully and will take steps to identify and contact individuals who may be entitled to claim the remains, prior to posting information to the web page," she wrote. Etchegary said the number of remains still long-term storage facilities changes frequently, but as of May 14 there were 27 bodies. "To date, no burials for unclaimed remains have been completed by N.L. Health Services as we finalize operationalizing the legislation," she wrote. CBC News first reported the health authority was storing 28 bodies in freezer units in an alleyway on hospital property more than a year ago. It was due to a lack of space in the morgue, which doubles as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Over the summer, NLHS relocated the freezers to the hospital's underground parking garage and built a wall around it. Procedure in place Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell, who took over the portfolio last week, says there is a procedure in place for the health authority to deal with unclaimed bodies. "We do expect that they are following that to the letter on how they conduct the operations around these unclaimed remains. So they have a more clear pathway as to how they handle this," Howell told reporters on Thursday. But even with the website not up and running, she wouldn't say whether the legislation was working. "That would be our expectation of NLHS and certainly we'll have further conversations about that with the CEO and ensuring that we do the most appropriate measures to, with dignity, handle any unclaimed remains," Howell said. Progressive Conservative MHA and health critic Barry Petten says it's alarming that dozens of bodies are still in storage and that it reflects poorly on the province. "The province brought in this legislation, they were going to come up with processes," he said. "We're finding out there's still bodies in these coolers. It's just not satisfactory." Petten says no matter how someone lived or died, people deserve a dignified burial. "I don't think that's a satisfactory answer."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
N.L. hasn't buried a single unclaimed body since legislation change in January
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador made a legislation change four months ago meant to tackle the growing number of unclaimed bodies being held in freezer units at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's — but it has yet to bury a single person. According to the amended legislation, which was filed on Dec. 24 and came into effect on Jan. 1, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) has the power to bury unclaimed remains after two weeks of searching for next of kin and then five days after the identity of the person is posted online on a dedicated website. The website also has yet to launch. Health authority spokesperson Mikaela Etchegary told CBC News in an email that work is still ongoing on the legislation and the website. "N.L. Health Services handles unclaimed human remains respectfully and will take steps to identify and contact individuals who may be entitled to claim the remains, prior to posting information to the web page," she wrote. Etchegary said the number of remains still long-term storage facilities changes frequently, but as of May 14 there were 27 bodies. "To date, no burials for unclaimed remains have been completed by N.L. Health Services as we finalize operationalizing the legislation," she wrote. CBC News first reported the health authority was storing 28 bodies in freezer units in an alleyway on hospital property more than a year ago. It was due to a lack of space in the morgue, which doubles as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Over the summer, NLHS relocated the freezers to the hospital's underground parking garage and built a wall around it. Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell, who took over the portfolio last week, says there is a procedure in place for the health authority to deal with unclaimed bodies. "We do expect that they are following that to the letter on how they conduct the operations around these unclaimed remains. So they have a more clear pathway as to how they handle this," Howell told reporters on Thursday. But even with the website not up and running, she wouldn't say whether the legislation was working. "That would be our expectation of NLHS and certainly we'll have further conversations about that with the CEO and ensuring that we do the most appropriate measures to, with dignity, handle any unclaimed remains," Howell said. Progressive Conservative MHA and health critic Barry Petten says it's alarming that dozens of bodies are still in storage and that it reflects poorly on the province. "The province brought in this legislation, they were going to come up with processes," he said. "We're finding out there's still bodies in these coolers. It's just not satisfactory." Petten says no matter how someone lived or died, people deserve a dignified burial. Given the legislation hasn't been operational after months, Petten says he questions the government's willingness to act on the problem. "I don't think that's a satisfactory answer." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
