The overall conclusion of today’s final report is that current arrangements for the care of people after death are partial, ineffective and in some areas, completely lacking. The overarching recommendation for Government is that there should be statutory regulation to protect the security and dignity of people after death, regardless of the setting or institution.

 

Today’s report makes 75 detailed recommendations in total, including 19 for trusts and 25 for local authorities focusing on access, dignity, security, and wider processes and procedures to protect deceased individuals. A smaller number of recommendations—31—focus on independent hospitals, medical education, hospices, ambulance services, care homes, the funeral sector and faith organisations, making specific recommendations to improve the care of the deceased. *This includes recommendations for the UK Government to establish an independent statutory regulatory regime for the funeral sector.*

 

*Every deceased individual deserves to receive the highest standard of care and dignity.* The Government will work to ensure this is the case, across all settings, be that in the NHS or other settings including local authority mortuaries, hospices, ambulance services, care homes, *funeral homes, and faith organisations.*

 

The Government recognise the urgency of the concerns raised by the inquiry’s recommendations and will respond at pace. This will include an interim update on progress this year and a final response by summer 2026.