Death and end of life

Annual report, written by Robert Swanson QPM, Senior Inspector of Burial, Cremation and Funeral Directors, providing a resume of duties undertaken in the role during the period April 2020 to September 2021.

Six months since opt out system introduced.

Plan sets out key priorities.

This agreement updates the 2017 version by setting out the procedures to follow to seek consent from a Procurator Fiscal for deceased organ or tissue donation to proceed in cases where a death needs to be reported to the Procurator Fiscal service.

Analysis of the consultation carried out between June and September 2019 on the proposed Funeral Director: Code of Practice.

Raising awareness of opt out system.

Analysis of responses to a consultation held on the proposed content of the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Specified Type B Procedures) (Scotland) Regulations.

The Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 2019 provide a detailed framework for the provision of cremation services.

We are seeking views on medical procedures proposed to be specified as Type B pre-death procedures, alongside how they may be authorised and what conditions may be applied to them. Pre-death procedures are the medical procedures carried out to increase the likelihood of successful transplantation.

New law comes into effect next March.

Guidance for medical practitioners on the electronic transfer of medical certificates of cause of death (MCCD) from health services to registrars and next of kin during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Determination under para 9(1) of the Coronavirus Act 2020 suspending the duties in relation to handling ashes that are normally placed on funeral directors, cremation authorities and local authorities.

Determination under para 8(1) of the Coronavirus Act 2020 relaxing arrangements around who can arrange a funeral.

New system in place.

Direction under Paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 14 (Review of medical certificates of cause of death and cremations: Scotland) of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (C.7).

Extra help to pay for funerals.  

Report by Professor Gordon Findlater, Inspector of Anatomy, detailing inspection outcomes and duties undertaken.

A National Statistics publication for Scotland.

Scottish Government delivering sixth social security benefit.

Improved financial support to help with bereavement costs

Report on the introduction of a regulatory model including Progressive Licensing scheme for Funeral Directors in Scotland.

Guide to planning your own funeral including help with costs.

Report compiled by Robert Swanson, Inspector of Crematoria, for the purpose of providing Scottish Ministers with a resume of duties undertaken in the role during the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

Consultation on a draft statutory code of practice for funeral directors. Funeral directors will be inspected against this code once it comes into force.

Draft statutory code of practice for funeral directors. Funeral directors will be inspected against this code once it comes into force.

Human Tissue law passes Stage 3.

Guidance on funeral costs published under Section 98 of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016.

Recommendations to make clear cost information available.

Key principles and minimum standards for all organisations conducting infant cremations in Scotland, as agreed by the National Committee on Burial and Cremation. This edition reflects the implementation of the Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 2019.

Statutory forms and related guidance to be used as a requirement of the Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 2019 which came into force on 4 April 2019.

Latest on proposed opt-out system.

Scotland’s organ donor registrations reaches half the population.

Legislation for a soft opt out system introduced to Parliament.

Agreement will remove financial burden from families