Tag: funeral services

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.

Brian Eddington: 1949 – 2023

Brian Eddington died last month at the age of 74 years. A North Edinburgh man through and through, he was born in Leith but spent most of his childhood and early years in West Pilton after his family were rehoused there (writes LYNN McCABE).

Brian lived in Drylaw for a number of years and then moved down to Muirhouse where he lived for more than 2 decades. He returned to Leith a few years ago when he was unable to return to his flat in Muirhouse after having part of his leg amputated.

Brian loved his community and was involved in many different groups, classes and local initiatives over the years. He was a creative person and found a second home in Muirhouse Festival Association (MFAC) where he developed a passion for community arts.

He was a member of the local drama group and was actively involved in the annual panto and gala. Brian was also involved in the Greater Pilton Print Resource (GPPR) (later Greater Pilton Design Resource/Source) and North Edinburgh News (the NEN), which provided so much rich source material for the Never Give Up project which Brian helped to produce along with fellow activists.

Brian had a passion for photography and history and he was able to bring together his local knowledge and his skills to document the ongoing changes and developments in Muirhouse which he witnessed first hand as a local resident. His photographs tell their own story about the process of regeneration and the impact this has had on his community.

In 2009, Brian joined North Edinburgh Social History Group along with Roberta Blaikie, Anna Hutchison, Brian Robertson and Ian Moore with a mission to record the history of activism in North Edinburgh.

Brian was a great person to have on board and relished trawling through 40 years worth of back copies of the Commune and the NEN and long forgotten photos, leaflets and posters which had been stored in dusty store cupboards and filing cabinets in local projects waiting for someone to find a use for them.

During the project, Brian was sufficiently movitated to get over his aversion to computers and managed to pick up some IT skills along the way which enabled him to access photographs of the area which had been digitalised by the Scotsman.

The project was a long hard slog and took 2 years to complete but the Never Give Up publication, exhibition and film gave Brian, the group and the wider community a great deal of pride in seeing their community accurately represented for a change.

It is an important piece of work documenting the rich history of North Edinburgh and the important role played by local people in their fight for social justice – a fight which continues until this day.

Following the launch of the Never Give Up project, Brian was involved in helping to establish a new adult education class called Power to the People : an introduction to the history of Protest in Scotland.

The class ran for a number of years and brought together new activists alongside people who had been involved in local and national politics. Inevitably perhaps, the focus of the class moved from studying politics and protest to actually doing it!

The Power to the People group were involved in many local issues over the years including cuts to local services and the campaign to stop the eviction of local families from their homes.

Brian’s love of history and politics continued until the end with his daily blog on facebook about important Scottish figures and events.

I’ll finish with a wee quote from Brian from the Never Give Up publication where he is talking about his time in Muirhouse drama group:

“We used to do street theatre about different issues. We did a thing about the poll tax where someone got arrested for not paying their poll tax. They got sent to a privatised jail.

“We basically done it any place where we could find people standing about. Folk thought it was hilarious. We handed out leaflets about the poll tax at the same time – that was the serious part of it. It was a good way to get across a serious message”.

Brian’s funeral service takes place this morning at 11.30 at Warriston Crematorium’s small chapel.

Scotmid Funerals partners with Ecclesiastical ahead of introduction of funeral industry regulations

Scotmid Funerals has partnered with Ecclesiastical Planning Services, which will take on the financial management of all the Scotmid Co-Operative’s funeral plans, on behalf of its existing customers. 

The move comes ahead of the introduction of new industry regulations, which will come into effect at the end of July by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  The aim of the regulations is to provide greater protection of – and clarity around – funeral plans, for the benefit of consumers. 

James Blackburn, Head of Funerals at Scotmid Funerals, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Ecclesiastical. As we transition into a regulated environment, we wanted to select a partner who shares our values and seeks to ensure the best possible service for our clients.

“We are confident that the extra protection this relationship will provide will be welcomed by our plan holders.”

Scotmid will continue to manage and oversee the physical aspects of funerals and their arrangements, as the customer facing business, allowing them to carry on providing the first-class, personal service they are known for. Ecclesiastical will assume responsibility for the overall management of the plans, including all financial elements.

Chris Clark, Managing Director of Ecclesiastical Planning Services, said: “With regulations fast approaching, it’s essential that funeral director’s partner with planners who share similar values and professionalism.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Scotmid Funerals to ensure clients feel supported throughout the funeral process.”

More information can be found at www.scotmidfunerals.coop and at www.funeral-plans.co.uk/about-us/

Study invites people to share their funeral experiences

The latest phase of a thought-provoking study into the role of the funeral in the grieving process is now underway and funeral directors, as well as anyone who has been involved in organising a funeral, can participate.

The study, known as ‘Funeral Experts by Experience’, is led by Dr Julie Rugg from the University of York and Dr Sarah Jones from Full Circle Funerals, an independent funeral director with four Yorkshire sites. The research is overseen by an expert panel including the National Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), The Good Funeral Guide and the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM).

The research is open to people from all ethnic, cultural and religious or non-religious backgrounds who lost a loved one before the Covid-19 pandemic. This second phase of the study aims to reveal, analyse and process people’s ideas, concerns and expectations about how someone is physically cared for after they have died and the personal care given to the body.

Last year the organisations completed the first phase of the research which has since been presented at several funeral industry conferences and events. The study identified all the factors that bereaved people consistently said were important to them when arranging or attending a funeral.

Dr Julie Rugg said: “During our initial research, lots of the participants shared their opinions about how people are physically looked after once the funeral director has been called, as well as the level of contact with the body.

“This became a focal point and raised further important questions that we plan to explore further. We are now asking volunteers to share their experiences, views and possible recommendations about how funeral directors care for people who have died. In addition, we would like to invite funeral directors to contribute with their thoughts regarding care for people who have died, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Dr Sarah Jones added: “We have created an online questionnaire for funeral directors to complete and are asking anyone who has been involved in a funeral to share their experience and views with us, either during a short telephone interview or by videocall.

“We believe that understanding what bereaved people want, means the funeral industry as a whole can continue to improve the quality of funeral care services and this robust research and insight will help to set standards, training and future regulations.”

More information about the research, as well as the previous published report, is available at https://fullcirclefunerals.co.uk/learning-together/research/ and funeral directors wanting to participate will find the link to the survey there.

For further information visit www.fullcirclefunerals.co.uk

Social enterprise celebrates huge milestone in fighting funeral poverty across Scotland

Scotland’s first not-for-profit funeral directors have already saved bereaved Scots £500,000 

In the light of recent findings by the National Funeral Cost Index Report 2019 that low income families are experiencing even more funeral poverty than ever, one local social enterprise has announced they are well on their way to bucking this trend.

Continue reading Social enterprise celebrates huge milestone in fighting funeral poverty across Scotland