ICCM raises concerns over country-wide funeral delays

The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) has today (22 April) voiced serious concerns about the increasing delays in funeral arrangements across the country, citing a lack of standardisation in the recently introduced Medical Examiner system. 

Mathew Crawley, chief executive of the ICCM, said: “The Medical Examiner system was introduced to provide greater safeguards to bereaved people, allowing them to scrutinise and raise questions regarding death certification where required. Unfortunately, there is an evident ‘postcode lottery’ nationally due to the current, non-standardised approach, with increased delays witnessed by those needing to register a death. 

“The sad result of this is more than just a delay in the ability to register a death. It can extend to having a very real effect on the wider ability for bereaved people to grieve. Delays can result in bodies not being able to be released to arrange a funeral, and in some cases remove the opportunity for a family to view their relatives prior to the funeral service – which can be truly damaging to a bereaved person’s wellbeing.” 

The ICCM also warns that the lack of information, especially in coronial cases, can create dangerous situations for crematorium staff. This is because critical details about medical implants, such as pacemakers, may not be confirmed before cremation.

Crawley added: “There are cases where people involved in the death registration process can say they simply ‘don’t know’ if a pacemaker is present. These devices can explode if not removed prior to cremation, posing real risks. If a cremator is damaged, it takes around two days to cool down before it can be repaired, causing further delays in cremations being able to take place. 

“No one seems to have ultimate responsibility for confirming this information. Crematorium staff are being left in a vulnerable position, just for trying to do the right thing.” 

As a result, the ICCM is calling for urgent national dialogue and a review of the Medical Examiner process to establish clear and consistent procedures across all regions. 

The organisation also invites further engagement with government departments and stakeholders to ensure  that the system truly protects the bereaved while safeguarding those who serve them.