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26
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
The Public Mortuary at Beaverwood Road Depot has been
improved during the year. A new "hoist" for lifting bodies from
the post mortem slab to the refrigerator has been installed, and
heating, lighting and ventilation improved.
There is no staff stationed at the Mortuary, and considerable
difficulty is met in arranging for the Chief Disinfector or his assistant
to be there at times when bodies have to be received or when
undertakers remove them. These calls are frequently outside the
normal working hours, and are often at very short notice.
The work of the disinfectors consists of receiving the bodies,
cleaning where necessary and arranging for post mortem examinations
by the pathologist. The premises must then be cleaned
and eventually the bodies handed over for burial.
The number of bodies dealt with continues to increase and
reached 243 during the year, compared with 215 in 1961, 182 in
1960, and 138 in 1959.
Formal inquests are held in the "Coroner's Room" at Beaverwood,
there being 18 during the year.
HOSPITAL SERVICES.
The following hospitals are within the area of the Sidcup
Hospital Management Committee of the South-East Metropolitan
Region, and I am indebted to the Secretary of the Committee for
the information given below.