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Parents who lost baby ashes demand apology from crematorium Parents who lost baby ashes demand apology from crematorium
(about 4 hours later)
Distressed parents who did not receive ashes of their babies after they were cremated want an apology after a report found no ashes were recovered in more than 50 cases. Distressed parents who did not receive the ashes of their babies after they were cremated want an apology after a report found no ashes were recovered in more than 50 cases.
A probe into infant cremations at the Emstrey crematorium in Shrewsbury found that the techniques it used between 1996 and 2012 meant there were no ashes from the cremation of children under a year old that could be returned to families. An inquiry into infant cremations at the Emstrey crematorium in Shrewsbury found that the techniques it used between 1996 and 2012 meant there were no ashes from the cremation of children under a year old that could be returned to families.
The cremators used at Emstrey at the time did not have an automated special infant setting. Records show that from 2013 – when new cremators, new techniques, and a baby tray were introduced – to the end of 2014, ashes were recovered in all six infant cremations that were carried out.The cremators used at Emstrey at the time did not have an automated special infant setting. Records show that from 2013 – when new cremators, new techniques, and a baby tray were introduced – to the end of 2014, ashes were recovered in all six infant cremations that were carried out.
The inquiry, set up by the local council, found some parents believe they understood at the time that they were unlikely to receive ashes but are now distressed to discover that had the cremation been conducted at another crematorium ashes would likely have been returned to them. The Guardian understands that the chief executive of Shropshire council, Clive Wright, is writing to parents to apologise for the failings. David Jenkins, who chaired the inquiry, said: “Clearly, there can be no more painful experience than for a parent to lose their infant child. It’s quite clear from the families I spoke to that the grief is made all the more painful for not having the ashes returned.”
Some parents did not at first understand that there would be no ashes and felt shocked, and sometimes angry, when they discovered there would be none. In 1996 Emstrey had installed cremators with no infant setting, the report said. “The issue is that a child’s body is clearly much lighter so one needs special techniques to recover the ashes from the cremation chamber,” Jenkins explained. “The equipment necessary for those special techniques and the special techniques themselves were not employed at Emstrey.”
In one case, of a slightly older child, the parents recall that they were told that there would be no ashes and only later discovered that in fact there had been ashes, which had been spread in the crematorium garden without their knowledge. The inquiry, set up by the local council, found that while some parents understood at the time that they were unlikely to receive ashes they are now distressed to discover that had the cremation been conducted at another crematorium ashes would probably have been returned to them.
The report said parents cannot understand how a child could be cremated through a competent and conscientious process and no ashes remain. Some families see a “cavalier disregard” by public officials for the sensitivity of their feelings, the report said. Other parents did not at first understand that there would be no ashes and felt shocked, and sometimes angry, when they discovered this.
However, the report said staff feel they conscientiously and professionally carried out a sensitive job in line with standards they were told to meet and using the equipment available to them. In one case, of a slightly older child, the parents recalled that they had been told that there would be no ashes and only later discovered that in fact there had been ashes, which had been spread in the crematorium garden without their knowledge.
The report said parents could not understand how a child’s body could be cremated through a competent and conscientious process but no ashes remained. Some families felt there was a “cavalier disregard” for their feelings by public officials, the report said.
However, the report said staff felt they had carried out a sensitive job conscientiously and professionally in line with standards they were told to meet and using the equipment available to them.
The report established that between January 2000 and December 2014, there were 57 infant cremations within the inquiry’s terms of reference.The report established that between January 2000 and December 2014, there were 57 infant cremations within the inquiry’s terms of reference.
There were an additional two cases outside the age criteria, but which parents asked to have included, and of these 59 cremations, 53 were conducted between 2000 and 2013. For 51 of these, ashes were not recovered, the report concluded. There were an additional two cases outside the age criteria but which parents asked to be included, and of these 59 cremations, 53 were conducted between 2000 and 2013. For 51 of these, ashes were not recovered, the report concluded.
“This practice seems to have been accepted locally as the norm,” it said. “Some parents, having learned that other crematoria would have returned ashes to them, feel not only distressed but also angry.“This practice seems to have been accepted locally as the norm,” it said. “Some parents, having learned that other crematoria would have returned ashes to them, feel not only distressed but also angry.
“A number have emphasised to us that they now seek an apology from whomever was responsible for denying them their baby’s ashes.“A number have emphasised to us that they now seek an apology from whomever was responsible for denying them their baby’s ashes.
“One family say that they cannot understand why, when the issue came to light, someone did not hold their hands up, take responsibility, and take swift action to put things right for the future.”“One family say that they cannot understand why, when the issue came to light, someone did not hold their hands up, take responsibility, and take swift action to put things right for the future.”
The report added: “There can surely be no more painful experience than losing one’s infant child. Parents who have lost their child at birth have vividly explained … how their joy, after building up for months, suddenly and unexpectedly turned to grief.The report added: “There can surely be no more painful experience than losing one’s infant child. Parents who have lost their child at birth have vividly explained … how their joy, after building up for months, suddenly and unexpectedly turned to grief.
“Having expected to be choosing names, clothes and toys, they found themselves instead having to make decisions about burial or cremation, form of ceremony, hymns and readings.“Having expected to be choosing names, clothes and toys, they found themselves instead having to make decisions about burial or cremation, form of ceremony, hymns and readings.
“For some, the decisions they made in the days immediately following the death of their baby remain a blur in their memory. They are not quite sure now who said what to whom and what their options were.”“For some, the decisions they made in the days immediately following the death of their baby remain a blur in their memory. They are not quite sure now who said what to whom and what their options were.”
John Williamson, head of operations for Co-operative Funeralcare, which has operated Emstrey crematorium since late 2011, said: “Any death, particularly that of a baby, is an incredibly painful experience and we extend our most sincere condolences to the families impacted by the Emstrey inquiry who have continued to face uncertainty following the loss of their child.”John Williamson, head of operations for Co-operative Funeralcare, which has operated Emstrey crematorium since late 2011, said: “Any death, particularly that of a baby, is an incredibly painful experience and we extend our most sincere condolences to the families impacted by the Emstrey inquiry who have continued to face uncertainty following the loss of their child.”
Williamson said his company had invested significantly in the site by upgrading facilities and replacing old equipment.Williamson said his company had invested significantly in the site by upgrading facilities and replacing old equipment.
“This was a significant upgrade and once plans were approved in early 2012, work commenced by March 2012, with the new cremators in place by late 2012,” he said. “In the interim period after we took over responsibility for the running of Emstrey and prior to new equipment and processes being introduced, there were four infant cremations for which ashes were not obtained. To these families, we would like to personally apologise. “This was a significant upgrade and once plans were approved in early 2012, work commenced by March 2012, with the new cremators in place by late 2012,” he said. “In the interim period after we took over responsibility for the running of Emstrey, and prior to new equipment and processes being introduced, there were four infant cremations for which ashes were not obtained. To these families, we would like to personally apologise.
“Following the introduction of new cremators, equipment and processes, ashes have been recovered in all infant cremations since January 2013. As outlined by the inquiry, the failure to return ashes after infant cremations is historic[al] rather than current and we believe that families can have confidence in the crematorium today.”“Following the introduction of new cremators, equipment and processes, ashes have been recovered in all infant cremations since January 2013. As outlined by the inquiry, the failure to return ashes after infant cremations is historic[al] rather than current and we believe that families can have confidence in the crematorium today.”
Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, is calling for a UK-wide review of baby cremation practices to ensure a consistent approach to the cremation of very premature, stillborn and very young babies. Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, is calling for a UK-wide review of cremation practices to ensure a consistent approach to the cremation of very premature, stillborn and very young babies.
Judith Abela, a spokeswoman for Sands, said: “Sands welcomes this important report. We know, from over 30 years of supporting bereaved parents, that having ashes that are associated with their baby, however few, to scatter or bury, is of huge significance. Denying bereaved parents this choice adds unnecessarily to their pain and distress.
She added: “We fully support the report’s recommendations and urge them to be implemented in full. We particularly support the call for a single, national and authoritative code of practice for baby and infant cremations to be implemented as a priority.”