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An NHS maternity wards and mortuaries in Leeds have taken the decision to ban a funeral director after she was found to be keeping babies’ bodies at her own residence, according to a recent investigation by BBC. The director in question, Amie Upton, aged 38, was barred by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust earlier this year. One grieving mother expressed her shock upon discovering her deceased son placed in a baby bouncer at Ms. Upton’s home, watching TV shows.
Zoe Ward, a mother whose three-week-old baby named Bleu passed away due to brain damage at Leeds General Infirmary in 2021, sought the services of Florrie’s Army for her son’s funeral arrangements, based on a recommendation from a family acquaintance. Ms. Ward initially believed the service provided by Ms. Upton’s Florrie’s Army to be impressive, only to be taken aback when she found her son’s body in less-than-ideal conditions at the director’s residence. The distressing experience left Ms. Ward feeling both upset and angry.
The funeral industry in England and Wales operates without any formal regulations concerning the storage and handling of deceased bodies. With no mandatory qualifications needed to establish oneself as a funeral director, the sector relies heavily on voluntary memberships to organizations like the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF). Ms. Upton, who is not affiliated with either group, had been subjected to several serious concerns raised by Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust in recent years.
Despite facing investigations for two reports since 2021, the police found no evidence of criminal activity related to Ms. Upton’s funeral services. While acknowledging the distress experienced by the impacted families, the West Yorkshire Police expressed empathy towards them. An inquiry recommending statutory regulations for the funeral industry in England remains pending a response from the government. Funeral director George Roberts emphasized the need for professionalism and qualifications in the sector, advocating for higher standards to ensure families receive reliable and trustworthy services during difficult times
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