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

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Ealing 1965

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]

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110
33. MORTUARY AND BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS
PUBLIC MORTUARY
The public mortuary, which is capable of accepting up to 40 bodies, is situated in
Petersfield Road, Acton, W.3, and, although the former catchment areas were the
Boroughs of Acton, Ealing, Southall and Brentford and Chiswick, it now only
serves those who die in this Borough. Bodies are taken to the mortuary from
accidents and all cases where the cause of death is unknown and the coroner decrees
that a post-mortem examination should be carried out. Autopsies are carried out
in the mortuary by a pathologist.

Table: The number of bodies taken to the mortuary for the period 1st January to 31st March, 1965, was 82. From 1st April to 31st December, a total of 486 bodies was taken to the mortuary, of residents from the following areas:—

The number of bodies taken to the mortuary for the period 1st January to 31st March, 1965, was 82. From 1st April to 31st December, a total of 486 bodies was taken to the mortuary, of residents from the following areas:—

Ealing397
Hillingdon39
Hounslow21
Richmond-upon-Thames3
Others26
Total486

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One full-time mortuary attendant is employed.
BURIAL OR CREMATION OF THE DEAD—NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT,
1948—SECTION 50
The Council is empowered to arrange for burials or cremations in those circumstances
where relatives of a deceased person are unable to afford the cost of a burial
and where no previous provision has been made or where no relative can be found.
The Council is also required to arrange for the burial of a deceased person, if requested
to do so, provided that the death takes place within the Borough, whether or not the
home address is within that area.
Application is made to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance and the
appropriate death grant is obtained to offset the cost, to the Council, of the burial or
cremation. Any monies found or insurance policies on the life of the deceased are
subsequently taken by the Council and any excess after meeting burial costs is passed
to relatives.
Two undertakers have acted for the Borough, one in Acton and one in Ealing, but
the Council has decided that, in 1966, one undertaker will be appointed for the
Borough.
Five burials were carried out during the year and one cremation.