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

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City of Westminster 1961

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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74
Where persons without known relatives die in the City, it is frequently
necessary not only to arrange for their burial, but to dispose of the
contents of their homes. This is done in consultation with the Treasury
Solicitor. Such action is necessary to enable the proceeds to be applied
towards the cost of burial and also to avoid rent accruing and to release
the accommodation for housing purposes as early as possible.
During the year 37 burials were undertaken by the City Council
in its Cemetery at Hanwell. The requests for the burials were received
from the following sources:—
H.M. Coroner 17
Relatives or friends of the deceased 9
Hospitals in the City 11

Coroner's Court and MortuaryDuring 1961, 286 bodies were received in the Mortuary on Coroner's Warrants, etc. Two bodies were admitted to await burial.

Number of Cases
Inquest cases64
Non-inquest cases222
Post-mortem examinations held277
Causes of death in the foregoing were as under:—
Accidental drowning1
Found drowned3
Suicide by drowning6
,, by other means14
Accidents-
Street2
Domestic8
Others12
Natural causes223
Misadventure2
Murder1
Miscellaneous causes14

Mortuary Accommodation—Arrangement with Holborn
Borough Council
The City Council and the Holborn Borough Council, with the approval
of the London County Council, made arrangements whereby bodies
from Holborn, which were not the concern of H.M. Coroner, were
accommodated at the City Council's Mortuary in Horseferry Road whilst
awaiting burial.
The arrangement came into operation on the 3rd September, 1956;
no bodies were received in the mortuary during 1961.