High standards found at funeral directors following unannounced reassurance visits

Article date: 30 January 2025

The visits came after concerns were raised regarding care of the deceased by a funeral director with premises in Hull and East Riding. The Ministry of Justice subsequently wrote to all councils asking them to undertake reassurance visits to all funeral directors in their area.

Councillor Trisha Long, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Supporting Neighbourhoods, said:

"With the sector being largely unregulated and there being no statutory inspection regime like those we maintain for restaurants and licensed premises, there were concerns that the issues discovered in Hull and East Riding could be happening elsewhere.

"The council's Environmental Health officers and Bereavement Services mobilised quickly to carry out unannounced visits to the 22 funeral directors operating in St Helens, having created a new review framework. This work was prioritised and managed on top of their normal duties and without additional resources.

"We are pleased to say that all our findings were very positive, providing a positive picture of the borough's services. Funeral directors were supportive of our visits, keen to demonstrate their high standards of care and dignity for the deceased, and receptive to the advice and recommendations made by our officers."

Four key themes were considered when the visits were undertaken: hygiene, facility conditions and capability; traceability and transparency; dignity and condition of deceased people in a funeral director's care; and pre-paid funeral plans.

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, added: "Our nationally-renowned Bereavement Services played a key role in the completion of these important visits, with their dignified funeral services they deliver for local people - and the beautiful cemetery grounds they maintain in St Helens and Newton-le-Willows - mirrored in the care with which all local funeral directors treat our lost loved ones."

Environmental Health and Bereavement Services will now work together to provide a business support group for all funeral directors in St Helens, giving advice on risk assessments, infection control, ashes management and future changes to funeral directors' responsibilities.

The services will consider and respond to the next steps awaited from Government should a registration, licensing or similar scheme be introduced in England.