NAFD warns of ‘fragmented’ death management services in new report

The NAFD has warned that funeral directors are unable to protect bereaved families from a “fragmented” death management system that is “struggling to cope”, following its research into delays and capacity crises within the industry. 

The report, entitled ‘Picking up the pieces’, used feedback from more than 1,000 funeral homes and revealed the “increasing difficulty” experienced by funeral directors when attempting to protect families from delays in the system.

According to the report, almost half of all UK families are now waiting more than three weeks for a funeral to take place, with 14% of families waiting a month or more. Delays were most pronounced in England, where one in six families are waiting four weeks or more for a funeral to take place. 

Some 82% of respondents said the delays are longer, or much longer than they would expect for this time of year.

Meanwhile, two thirds of respondents are experiencing delays in bodies being released by the Coroner (Procurator Fiscal in Scotland), which can mean families have to be advised they may not wish to see their loved one after death due to deterioration in their condition, the NAFD said.

In addition, delays in getting death certificates signed by doctors have grown “significantly” since the start of the pandemic.

Finally, the report found that a lack of appointments at Registry Offices mean that the majority of families cannot register a death within the legally required five-day window in England and Wales.

Andrew Judd, CEO of the NAFD, said: “Helping client families to navigate the complex processes and pathways which follow a death – and taking as much of the strain of it away from them as possible – has always been at the heart of every funeral director’s role. However, the ability of funeral directors to successfully deliver this role is coming under significant threat on a regular basis.

“For bereaved and deceased people to be properly cared for an intricate jigsaw of services must work seamlessly from the point of death to the funeral, with funeral directors guiding bereaved families through the process.” 

He added: “As this survey shows, the infrastructure underpinning the death management jigsaw is crumbling under the strain. The system has become progressively more fragmented, leaving funeral directors struggling to protect bereaved families from the impact of gaps and delays that have arisen.

“What is needed now is joined-up engagement from Government to resolve these serious issues. The NAFD stands ready to engage with all parties to seek resolutions to these issues, to protect the wellbeing of bereaved people and the dignity of deceased people in their care.”