NAFD disappointed at further delays to death certification reform

Having worked closely with parliamentarians of all parties to improve their understanding of the issues affecting the profession, the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) is disappointed that the Government’s planned changes to the process of death certification have been delayed once again. The reforms will not now be implemented until October 2013 at the earliest.

Initially, the plans were put back because of the delayed timetable for the Health and Social Care Bill, which legislates for these reforms, as the Bill would not be passed in time to allow the new regulations to commence in April 2012. It is understood that a revised date of April 2013 was therefore established to give Local Authorities time to appoint a Medical Examiner and plan for the introduction of the service.

Now, however, the NAFD has learned that Local Authorities have raised concerns about the impact assessment published by the Department of Heath, especially with regard to the proposed requirements for Medical Examiners’ services to be funded through the local collection of a public fee. Local Authorities are key partners in these reforms so the Department of Heath felt it was important to spend time working with them to address the issues and has therefore extended the consultation period by a further six months.

Alan Slater, chief executive officer of the NAFD, says: “We are disappointed that the implementation of these important reforms has been put back yet again. However, the NAFD has built good relationships with officials at the Department of Health – not least through Nigel Lymn Rose’s role on the Death Certification National Steering Group – and we will continue to work closely with them on these reforms.”

Welfare Reform Bill makes good progress The NAFD reports better news regarding the Welfare Reform Bill, which will extend Social Fund budgeting loans to cover funeral expenses. These are interest-free loans intended to provide further help to bereaved relatives to meet a family member’s funeral expenses and will be provided over and above a payment from the Social Fund.

The Bill is in its final stages in the House of Lords, where it is being examined in detail, and will then go to the Lords Report stage. It is understood that the Bill will receive Royal Assent in mid-December, with budgeting loans extended to funeral expenses two months later.