Tag: dignity

UK Government takes action to crack down on rogue funeral operators

Urgent work to take place to protect bereaved families

  • Proposals for formal regulation of the funeral sector to be developed following harrowing case in Hull
  • DHSC to lead cross-government work to ensure that every person in every setting is treated with the respect they deserve in death.
  • Work will formally commence following the sentencing of criminal funeral director Robert Bush today
  • Regulation is already in place in Scotland

The UK government has announced urgent plans to crack down on rogue operators in the funeral sector and ensure better protection for bereaved families after the sentencing of Robert Bush yesterday.

Bush, of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a total of 67 charges, including the prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud, fraudulent trading, and theft.

The Department for Health and Social Care will now drive forward work alongside other government departments, including the Ministry of Justice and the Law Commission to crack down on rogue operators in the funeral sector, and to protect bereaved families against the heartbreak of having their loved ones mistreated in death.

This will include developing a range of detailed proposals to drive up standards, including regulation of the funeral sector. These will be drawn up in discussion with established operators, faith groups, families, and other stakeholders.

As part of this work, the Law Commission will undertake a review of the criminal law in relation to the deceased, consider any gaps in existing legal protections and make recommendations on the creation of new offences, if they are needed.

For bereaved families, there can be few things more painful than knowing a loved one was not treated properly after they died. The deceased cannot speak for themselves, which is why clear safeguards, stronger oversight and consistent standards are needed to protect their dignity and give families the reassurance they deserve.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Yvette Cooper said: “Robert Bush’s actions were utterly abhorrent, and my thoughts are with all the bereaved families in Hull who have been so badly let down.

“In the wake of this horrific case, we will now bring forward comprehensive proposals to ensure respect and dignity for the deceased in every setting, including proper regulation of the funeral sector. We are determined to drive rogue operators out of this industry, and protect other families from suffering this same heartache.

“Every person in every situation deserves dignity in death, and every bereaved family deserves certainty that their loved ones are being treated with care and respect.”

The Government will work closely with bereaved families, funeral providers, faith groups and others to ensure that future policy is proportionate, effective and informed by those with relevant experience. 

This will ensure action is designed to give families confidence that funeral providers are meeting clear, consistent standards, no matter where they live or which provider they choose.

It will also reinforce the profound responsibility placed on anyone entrusted with caring for someone after death.

This case is another horrendous example of where the deceased have not been honoured with the care and respect many of us would have expected. The findings from Sir Jonathan Michael’s independent inquiry into the actions that allowed David Fuller to commit his horrific crimes showed that we need to consider how we can ensure better standards across all settings that look after our loved ones after they die, including where some level of regulation is already in place.

Many funeral providers offer compassionate and professional care every day. Stronger oversight, including regulation and other measures, would protect families from poor practice, support good providers, and restore confidence in a sector people rely on when they are at their most vulnerable.

Andrew Judd, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Funeral Directors, said: We welcome the government’s commitment to raising standards and oversight across the whole funeral sector and look forward to working with government to ensure that every single deceased person and their bereaved families are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve.

“We will work with Government and industry during the engagement to secure meaningful change for all bereaved families as soon as possible. We believe that statutory regulation can best achieve this aim and will continue to make that case during this process.”

Paul Allcock, Government Liaison at the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), said: “SAIF welcomes the DHSC’s commitment to engaging with the funeral profession on regulation. 

“Any framework must protect the deceased and their families as a priority, but must also uphold standards and recognise small and medium-sized independent funeral businesses. It should be proportionate, preserve family choice and maintain a diverse market. 

“We’re committed to supporting the engagement and cross-government work. 

“SAIF members currently follow the UK Funeral Director Code and undergo inspections of premises, mortuary facilities and administrative processes. Families also have access to an independent complaints and redress process, delivered by an externally audited alternative dispute resolution body certified by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, providing an added safeguard. 

We’ll continue working closely with the DHSC and MOJ to shape regulation that protects the deceased, their families and supports a sustainable funeral profession.”

Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “We look forward to working with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Justice to ensure the improvement of standards in the funeral sector enable all families and communities to bury their loved ones with dignity and care.

“The Jewish community is proud of its high standards of care for the deceased and internal regulatory processes, which ensure that Jewish people are buried safely, respectfully, and in accordance with religious requirements.”

Mohamed Omer MBE, Chair, National Burial Council, said: “We have followed the Robert Bush (Legacy Independent Funeral Directors) case with deep distress. The findings are profoundly troubling and have caused immense pain to families who entrusted their loved ones to this service. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all bereaved families affected by this appalling breach of trust, care and decency. 

“The National Burial Council welcomes the Government’s commitment to urgent action to strengthen oversight, accountability and professional standards across the funeral sector.

“Muslim and Jewish communities have specific religious requirements for timely burial and respectful handling of the deceased, making dignity and transparency essential. NBC works closely with burial societies and funeral directors to uphold high standards and will support DHSC and the Ministry of Justice in strengthening safeguards and effective self‑regulation.”

NOTE: Regulations are already in place in Scotland.

Hanover care workers to start industrial action against “insulting” pay cut plan

Care workers employed by the charity and social landlord Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association will start a programme of industrial action against their management’s “insulting” 1 per cent pay offer.

Action will involve a work to rule including a ban on all overtime and additional holiday working from 17.00 hours from today (Tuesday 7 September), impacting service delivery in care support, cleansing and domestic assistance across twenty-eight sites.

The dispute is the culmination of months of fruitless negotiations between GMB Scotland representatives and Hanover senior management, who themselves were awarded a 4.5 per cent pay rise in 2020, to substantially lift the pay and conditions of frontline staff.

GMB Scotland organiser Ude Joe-Adigwe said: “The employer’s offer means a real-terms pay cut for staff who have worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s totally insulting.

“Our members provide vital care and assistance for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, and they deserve to be treated so much better than this.

“This is not a decision our members have taken lightly; they are proud of their work, but it’s a shame their employer won’t value frontline staff the way they value themselves.

“This action shows Hanover that their staff are prepared to fight for their dignity and value, and we would hope the employer reconsidered its position.”

Statement on historical links with Atlantic slave trade

A joint statement from NHS Lothian and Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation:

We are aware that hospitals across Lothian have benefited from funds realised from the Atlantic slave trade.

With colonialism and slavery being central to the national economy from the 17th to the 19th centuries, both Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation and NHS Lothian can be considered as joint descendants of the legacies of these donations and endowments.

We do not believe that there is a limitation period on such contributions and have a responsibility to address this legacy of colonialism, racism and slavery and use this learning to help remove inequality and shape a positive future for all.

We have made a commitment to research, understand and acknowledge our history so that we can learn from it and act. We will:

  • create a consultative advisory group, with representation from staff, patient, and community groups, to help guide and shape the research, learning and related outputs.
  • fund a research post to review archive evidence and secondary sources to compile a thorough documented history of the links between the old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Atlantic slave trade. (Funded by Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation)
  • use the research to guide outcomes and outputs and make recommendations for action to the NHS Board
  • seek to work alongside other institutions (such as the University of Edinburgh) who are undertaking similar reflective exercises.   

The impact of the roots of the slave trade is evident in the inequalities that we see today, with COVID-19 exacerbating and giving a public spotlight to these inequalities.

As an employer and healthcare provider we state without reservation that all staff and patients must be treated equally, irrespective of skin colour, culture, religion, sexuality, age, disability or gender.

We support the fundamental need for equality and inclusion at the heart of what we stand for. It is important that all staff and representatives of NHS Lothian, treat one another with care, compassion, dignity, and respect. These are a key part of our organisation values.

Working to embed diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do

We believe better health for all is within our reach and in no way condone the actions of historical donors. Acknowledging and understanding this history and using this learning to inform our corporate objectives will support us to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation and help us to tackle racism, discrimination and inequality.

Though we have much to learn and more work to do, ongoing reviews of our internal processes and systems have already led to positive, practical changes in the way we work.

The following examples outline work that is already taking place:

  • Staff Networks
    We have established four Equalities Staff Networks, and committed to increasing support for them, and potentially further networks in the coming year.  At present we have vibrant groups as follows;
    • Black & Ethnic Minority Staff Network
    • Disabled Employee Network
    • LGBT+ Staff & Allies Network
    • Youth Staff Network
       
  • Corporate Objective and Workplans
    Our Corporate Objective 2021 – 22 on race ethnicity and diversity demonstrate our commitment to act now – starting with a facilitated series of one to one and group discussions involving our Corporate Management Team and Staff Network members
  • Our detailed Advancing Equality Action Plan 2021-22 was devised and agreed with members of all our staff networks over a series of workshops in Spring 2021
  • 360 Visions – Managed by Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation’s Tonic Arts programme, 360 Visions uses theatre, storytelling, music and filmmaking to understand NHS Lothian BME staff experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic from an equalities perspective and explores the multi-faceted challenges faced not only by BME staff, but also by Disabled, LGBT+ and Youth staff members. The aim is to help open a door for all colleagues to gain awareness of the difficulties faced on a daily basis, both in and outside of work, and why change needs to happen. It bridges a gap to enable staff to further educate themselves about the daily struggles, in order to create a culture of inclusivity, diversity and acceptance which allows positive changes to be achieved. NHS Lothian has come a long way to improve culture and diversity, but COVID-19 has reinforced that there is still work to be done. As part of this ongoing work, the 360 Visions creative programme will help provide a platform for diverse viewpoints to be voiced and heard, celebrating the incredible work and diversity of NHS Lothian.
  • Reflecting Diversity in our Art Collection – Our Art Collection plays an important role in the improved health and wellbeing of staff, patients and visitors with over 2,750 artworks displayed across over 40 NHS Lothian sites. We have undertaken a review of our collection to ensure this is reflective of a wide and diverse culture.
  • Review of EDI practices within our funded programmes
    Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation’s Tonic Arts team is working with Knowledge Bridge to help embed EDI as a core part of the Tonic Arts programme. Knowledge Bridge is working with the Tonic Arts team to review the current programme and develop an inclusive strategy, advising on how to develop a more diverse and inclusive Arts in Health programme for NHS Lothian.  

Deacon Blue’s ‘DIGNITY’ is Scotland’s greatest song

Deacon Blue’s ‘Dignity’ has been named as Scotland’s Greatest Song. Ewen Cameron today announced the iconic tune was a clear winner on his breakfast show ‘Ewen Cameron in the Morning’ following the public vote.

Dignity was the first song ever released by the band in 1987 and the iconic tune has remained a firm favourite throughout the years. The signature song was also played by the band at the closing ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In an interview with Ewen Cameron, Ricky Ross, said: “Thank you so much to everyone for voting for this song. I know that people take this song to their hearts and we are very grateful for that and on behalf of all of Deacon Blue I thank you for making Dignity Scotland’s favourite song.

“It is a lovely thing that people have taken it on board as it was never really a hit record. It was one of these songs that crept up and it got released and then re-released and eventually re-released and it sort of became a folk song in people’s hearts and it is lovely that it has stayed with people

“I phoned Dougie to tell him, he and I started this band 35 years ago and it funny that this is a song that we cobbled together in a wee rehearsal room one day.

“I lost my mum this year and it is the kind of thing that she would have loved to have heard. It’s an amazing story and I’m very, very proud.”

Ewen Cameron said: “There was an incredibly strong shortlist showcasing the best of Scottish talent and Dignity by Deacon Blue is a brilliant winner. I don’t think there can be anyone in Scotland who doesn’t know the words to this anthem or find themselves singing along when we play it.

“I have to say though, as much as I love The Proclaimers, as a Hearts fan, I was slightly relieved that ‘Sunshine on Leith’ didn’t take the honours. However, I have to confess that is a great song and a very worthy runner -up!”

The ten songs were selected by four judges including Jackie Bird, singer and actress, Clare Grogan as well as journalist and presenter, Gordon Smart and Aarti Joshi of DF Concerts after many hours of debate and discussion.

Head Judge, Jackie Bird, said: “It was wonderful to be part of a debate that took our minds off the rotten stuff around us all at the moment and gave us some fun and something to be passionate about.  I know that during the voting various songs took the lead, but Dignity was always going to be one of the hot favourites.

“Like all the best songs it tells an authentic story and is ultimately an uplifting tale of hard work and hope.  The song carries such a universal message, no wonder it’s hi-jacked by live audiences around the world.  Well done to all our talented artists who made the top ten and to Ricky and Deacon Blue for giving us a classic.”

Dignity was selected from a shortlist of ten songs and the closely fought battle saw Sunshine on Leith by the Proclaimers in second place with Baker Street by Garry Rafferty in third. The other seven contenders on the shortlist were:

  • Whole of The Moon: The Waterboys
  • Loaded: Primal Scream  
  • Tinseltown in the Rain: The Blue Nile
  • In a Big Country: Big Country
  • This is the Life: Amy MacDonald
  • Black Eyed Boy: Texas
  • Somewhere in My Heart: Aztec Camera

Victoria Easton-Riley, content director at Greatest Hits Radio Scotland, said: “Scotland’s Greatest Song has just underlined how passionate the Greatest Hits Radio Scotland listeners are about Scottish music and artists.

“It has been fantastic to see so many of them vote and interact with our stations and presenters on social media. Our presenters have loved being part of this campaign too.

“Thanks to Audio Frontier for pulling this exciting project together. And of course, a huge congratulations to our winner, Deacon Blue. A great choice from our listeners!”

The project is the brainchild of Glasgow-based audio specialists Audio Frontier, which has won a funding bid for the programmes through the UK Government’s Audio Content Fund.

John McInally, of Audio Frontier, said: “‘It’s been a real pleasure to work on this project alongside the Audio Content Fund. It’s been a great way to celebrate St Andrews Day and Dignity is a worthy winner, though I’m sure the debate will continue!”

To listen to the judges and artists discuss all ten songs on the shortlist please visit Scotland’s Greatest Song – Latest Episodes – Listen Now on Clyde 2 (planetradio.co.uk)

Show some respect: Holyrood action on ‘hated’ benefits assessments

Scottish Greens yesterday successfully pushed for a duty to be placed on government to consider existing evidence before ordering additional assessments for devolved social security benefits.

Assessments for the controversial Personal Independence Payment, which thousands of Scots have been called for, can be stressful and humiliating and in many cases not necessary because there is sufficient existing medical and other evidence.

At a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Social Security Committee, the Minister for Social Security, Jeane Freeman, accepted the intention of the amendment from Alison Johnstone MSP and pledged to work with her to implement its intentions before the Bill passes, likely this summer.

Speaking after the meeting, Lothian MSP Ms Johnstone, said: “If we are to found this new system on the principles of dignity and respect, then we should protect applicants from unnecessary assessments that cause distress.

“I am pleased to hear that the Scottish Government accept the principle of my amendment, and have agreed to work with me to ensure the final bill enshrines a duty for existing evidence to be considered by the Scottish Government before an assessment can be ordered.”

Citizens Advice Scotland describe such a move as “the highest priority for the Scottish social security system”.

The move comes after two earlier successes. The Scottish Social Security system will now include a principle that social security should reduce poverty, as a result of a Green amendment now passed.

Also as a result of a Green amendment, the Scottish Government has now recognised the unfair situation faced by carers who care for more than one person. Alison Johnstone has raised the issue that Carer’s Allowance claimants who care for more than one person yet receive no recognition of this. This can mean that some carers miss out on the support altogether.

Jeane Freeman said: “I fully appreciate the point that Ms Johnstone makes, and the fact that many of Scotland’s carers are splitting their hours of care between more than one person and might be missing out on support despite having significant caring responsibilities.

“I am also sympathetic to the principle that we should recognise a wider range of caring situations and ensure that we are providing support to those who need it. I want to ensure that we fully support carers, as I know Ms Johnstone does.”

Alison Johnstone added: “Greens are helping to build a fairer Scotland. As a result of Green action, the new social security system will have the overriding aim to reduce poverty and the Scottish Government has pledged to look at the situation facing people who have multiple caring responsibilities, which Greens raised.

And today, the Scottish Government has accepted the Green manifesto pledge to significantly reduce the number of unfair benefits assessments by making better use of existing evidence.”

Macpherson MSP said that SNP Scottish Government amendments passed yesterday were ground-breaking in ensuring anyone challenging a decision on their social security entitlements will not experience a gap in financial support.

Local SNP MSP Ben Macpherson, who sits on Holyrood’s Social Security Committee said: “Amendments brought forward by Minister for Social Security Jeane Freeman mean that through short-term assistance payments, people will continue to have financial support when redeterminations or appeals are undertaken.

“This is an extremely positive and ground-breaking move that will ensure any claimant wishing to challenge decisions about their benefits entitlements will not be faced with suddenly having no financial support while their appeal is made.

“This means that, unlike the current DWP system, no-one will face the cliff-edge of suddenly losing much needed benefits while they wait for decisions to be taken about their future payments.

“The Scottish Government is making clear on the face of the Social Security Bill that nobody will be left in the lurch, or be pushed into crisis, while an independent body scrutinises their appeals, and their payments will be maintained at the original level throughout any such appeal.

“This will be an extremely important and positive function of a Social Security System in Scotland that is embedded in dignity and respect and with peoples’ right to social security firmly at its heart – and I am proud to have played my part in shaping it.”