London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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- 31 -
The whole of the new equipment has been designed to comply
with the latest recommendations of the Ministry of Health for indoor
swimming pools.
Samples of water in the pools are taken from time to time,
and during i960 the results obtained were well within the bacteriological
standards recommended by the Ministry of Health. The
residual chlorine similarly was maintained within the concentration
advocated.
PUBLIC MORTUARY
For many years, the Council maintained a public mortuary at
No.lA, Hornton Place, W.8. Prom 15th April, 1958> the Coroner
decided that all bodies of persons dying within Kensington coming
under his jurisdiction should be taken to the Hammersmith Mortuary,
which adjoins the West London Coroner's Court. Consequently, the
Council decided to close their premises and made an arrangement with
the Hammersmith Borough Council that all Kensington cases should be
accommodated in the Hammersmith Mortuary. The agreement provides
that an annual payment of £500 shall be made for this service.
Details regarding the number of Kensington cases admitted
during i960 to the Hammersmith Public Mortuary in accordance with the
agreement are as follows
By Order of Coroner 387
By Order of Police 2
On application of Undertaker 2
391
No. of Post mortem examinations made 389
No. of inquests held 89
BURIAL OF THE DEAD
Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, imposes on
the Council the duty to arrange for the burial or cremation of any
person who dies, or is found dead, within the borough, where no
suitable private arrangements are made for the disposal of the
remains. The Council have authorised the Medical Officer of Health
to make arrangements for the burial of any person to whom the
Section applies.
In the twelve months ended 31st December, i960, the Council
became responsible for the burial of 31 persons dying in the borough.
The following is a summary the action taken:-
(a) Cases where the funeral
expenses have been fully recovered 20
(b) Cases where part only of the
expenses has been recovered 2
(i) Number of these where balance
of expenses will be recovered 1 (amounting to
£13. 5s. Od.)
(ii) Number of these where there was
no further estate or "liable"
relative Nil
(iii) Number of these where "liable"
relatives were unable to
contribute 1