Royal London finds funeral spend increasing
At a time when Local Authorities are under more scrutiny than ever before, the 2020 Public Health Act Funerals Conference is well placed to bring all parties together to discuss current provision, look at solutions and prepare for the future.
The recent Royal London report found that Local Authorities have spent in excess of £6.3m on on PHA funerals in the financial year up to March 2019.With one council, Birmingham, providing funerals for 387 residents in the year.
The report also highlights that there is no minimum standard for funerals provided. Royal London has called for the introduction of a minimum standard that allows families to attend a funeral and that ashes are returned to next of kin after a cremation, free of charge.
The Church of England General Synod will also be debating the matter and parliament have also made noises about change. The Government will increase the amount of the Funeral expenses payment in April from £700 to £1000. Whilst this is welcome, the amount paid still will not cover the cost of a basic funeral which means that the bereaved may have to turn to the Local Authority to provide a service.
David Lockwood, who runs the Public Health Funerals Information Service (PADSN) and organises the annual PHA Funeral Conference in association with Finders International said “I welcome the Royal London report and its call for a minimum standard”. He continued “it’s clear that staff work hard to provide a dignified service for the deceased, but they are put under financial constraints, a minimum standard will at least give them a framework they can follow. This will also end the postcode lottery meaning that the bereaved will know what they can expect.”
David is calling on all interested parties to attend the forthcoming PHA Funerals Conference at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel on the 14th May. David stated that “it is an ideal opportunity for those seeking change to meet the Local Authority staff that provide the service, to see their compassion and commitment and to forge links to work together to improve the quality of service we give”.
Delegates can sign up now via the online form found here
Rise in Public Health Funerals puts even greater pressure on hard pressed local authorities
A recent survey of 70% of local authorities revealed that almost £5.5m was spent on Public Health Funerals in the year ending April 2018. During this period in excess of 3,800 people received a Public Health Act (PHA) funeral from a local authority.
Almost a third of these funerals were arranged as a result of bereaved families not being able to afford the cost of the funeral.
275 of 390 authorities responded to the survey, conducted by Royal London, meaning that a further 30% of local authorities, and therefore their expenditure on public health funerals, are not accounted for in these figure.
The cost of PHA funerals has also risen by 3.5% compared to 2017. This comes at a time of decreased central government funding for local authorities - forcing them to seek alternative ways of funding the increase.
The average cost for the local authority is reported at £1,403.00, though costs can be higher or lower depending on the authority.
David Lockwood, public sector development manager for Finders International and former local government officer responsible for PHA funerals said that the rise in costs did not surprise him.
“Having spoken to many former colleagues, I knew that the number of funerals is on the rise. It’s not surprising given how difficult it is to get any state aid from the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions)”.
It’s over 30 years since the law in England and Wales was changed and legislation in Scotland dates back to 1948. “Local authorities need more clarity on their role - what they can and cannot do.”
“Practice varies across the country with some authorities allegedly banning relatives from funerals while others strive to ensure they are inclusive. Staff undertaking these funerals are under pressure to keep costs down, but they all care and are committed to providing the deceased with a service that is respectful and dignified.”
Mr Lockwood is calling on central government to look at the problem and find solutions as quickly as possible.
While local authorities are entitled to recover costs under legislation; some struggle to do so with their workloads. Many local authority staff report difficulties in obtaining funds from banks that hold cash belonging to the deceased.
Danny Curran, Managing Director of Finders International, said: “Local authorities can turn to companies like us, Finders International, for help in tracing next of kin. We offer a free and efficient service to try and trace next of kin so that hard pressed local authorities don’t have to take on the financial burden.”
Finders International has a record of assisting local authorities. All local authorities are eligible to access the Finders International Funeral Fund, a charitable fund that supports councils when a deceased has no estate and no known next of kin. Finders also offers free conferences and website support to local authorities undertaking Public Health Act Funerals.
