Key Takeaways:
- The funeral industry in England is expected to be regulated for the first time due to a series of scandals over the handling of remains.
- Bereaved families have called for a new investigatory body and rules governing professional qualifications.
- The industry is currently an "unregulated free for all" with anyone able to set up a funeral business without a licence, experience, qualifications, or training.
- Ministers are drawing up plans for tighter curbs, including a licensing scheme, enforcement powers, and a mandatory inspection policy.
- The National Association of Funeral Directors and Co-op Funeralcare have called for the Human Tissue Authority to be given oversight of England’s 4,500 funeral directors.
Introduction to the Funeral Industry Scandals
The funeral industry in England is facing a major overhaul as ministers are expected to back calls for regulation following a series of scandals over the handling of remains. Bereaved families have been calling for a new investigatory body and rules governing professional qualifications after an official inquiry declared the sector an "unregulated free for all". The inquiry, led by Sir Jonathan Michael, was sparked by the case of David Fuller, a double killer who abused over 100 bodies in an NHS mortuary over a 12-year period. The inquiry’s findings have led to widespread outrage and calls for change, with many arguing that the lack of regulation has allowed unscrupulous individuals to exploit vulnerable families.
The Current State of the Funeral Industry
In England, anyone can set up a funeral business without a licence, experience, qualifications, or training. This has led to a number of high-profile cases of funeral homes mishandling remains, including the discovery of six decomposing bodies in a mortuary room in Hampshire. The directors of the funeral home, Richard Elkin and Hayley Bell, were convicted of fraud offences and preventing the decent burial of a body. This case highlights the need for regulation and oversight in the industry, as families are often in a vulnerable state and may be open to exploitation. The lack of regulation has also led to cases of funeral homes providing substandard services, with some families receiving unidentified ashes or being told that their loved ones had been cremated when in fact they had not.
The Need for Regulation
The need for regulation in the funeral industry is clear. Mark Sewards, a Labour MP, has called for regulation, stating that it is "unbelievable" that funeral homes in England are not regulated. He argues that when families are grieving, they are in a vulnerable state and may be more likely to agree to things without fully understanding the implications. This vulnerability can be exploited by unscrupulous individuals, leading to further distress and trauma for families. Sewards took up the campaign after one of his constituents raised concerns about Florrie’s Army, a baby-loss support service in Leeds that has since been banned from working with the NHS. The case of Florrie’s Army highlights the need for regulation, as the owner of the service, Amy Upton, was found to have mishandled the remains of several babies, including that of a baby boy named Bleu.
The Impact on Families
The lack of regulation in the funeral industry has had a devastating impact on families. Michaela Baldwin, whose stepfather’s body was found at the premises of Legacies Independent Funeral Directors, has called for tighter rules to be enacted "asap for the sake of the families". She argues that the current system is "absolutely disgraceful" and that there needs to be regulation on how bodies are stored and paperwork must stay with the deceased at all times. The case of Legacies Independent Funeral Directors is particularly shocking, as the owner, Robert Bush, pleaded guilty to several counts of fraud, including handing unidentified ashes to the parents of four stillborn babies. The impact on families is not just emotional, but also financial, as many families have been left with significant debts after being exploited by unscrupulous funeral homes.
Proposed Solutions
Ministers are considering a number of options to improve standards in the funeral industry, including a licensing scheme, enforcement powers, and a mandatory inspection policy. The National Association of Funeral Directors and Co-op Funeralcare have called for the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) to be given oversight of England’s 4,500 funeral directors. However, this would require a significant expansion of the HTA, which currently employs 57 staff and carries out around 220 inspections a year. Alternatively, ministers are considering whether local authorities could carry out inspections in a similar way to health and safety checks on offices, shops, warehouses, and restaurants. The government has stated that it is committed to taking action to ensure the highest standards are always met by funeral directors and is now considering the full range of options to improve standards.
Conclusion
The funeral industry in England is in need of urgent reform. The lack of regulation has led to a number of high-profile cases of funeral homes mishandling remains, and families have been left to suffer the consequences. The government’s commitment to taking action is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure that the industry is properly regulated and that families are protected. The proposed solutions, including a licensing scheme and mandatory inspections, are a good starting point, but it is essential that the government takes a comprehensive approach to addressing the issues in the funeral industry. Only then can families be assured that their loved ones will be treated with dignity and respect.