Your opportunity to consult on key funeral issues
The National Association of Funeral Directors is consulting with the Government on a number of issues relating to the funeral service and will submit comprehensive feedback on behalf of the profession. While the Association is liaising for feedback from its members, it is also inviting comments and observations on the proposals from the wider funeral sector.
The Department of Health has published its long awaited paper Improving the Process of Death Certification, which seeks views on seven questions. The main proposals are:
- New independent medical scrutiny and analysis of death
- A common certification process for both burial and cremation
- Burial or cremation to be authorised by either a Medical Examiner or a Coroner
- The removal of cremation certification processes and associated forms
- The removal of the role of the Cremation Referee
The paper can be viewed at The Department of Health website and the NAFD is required to submit a response by October 24, 2007.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice is consulting on Cremation Regulations: Consolidation and Modernisation. This paper seeks answers to 13 questions by October 22, 2007. The document is available at The Ministry of Justice website and the principal proposals, which are intended to prevent a repeat of the murders carried out by Dr Harold Shipman, fall under the following five headings:
- To replace the language and order of the existing regulations, which date from 1930
- To introduce new regulations giving families the right to inspect medical forms
- To introduce a new regulation in respect of emergency procedures during a pandemic which will have effect under amendment regulations
- To make a number of other minor changes to existing procedures
- To create new forms for use by applicants, doctors and cremation authorities
“Although the Government’s proposals will only apply in England and Wales, it is likely that when the new legislation is introduced it will be adopted elsewhere within the UK, so we would welcome the comments of Scottish and Irish funeral directors too,” says NAFD chief executive officer Alan Slater.
If you have any comment on these issues that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the NAFD’s response, please email your feedback to Alan Slater.
