Press Releases

Saturday 14th September 2024

Leicester, UK: The Ninth Annual National Burial Council (NBC)Conference was held on 14September 2024, bringing together professionals and key stakeholders in the field of bereavement services.

Hosted in Leicester, the event attracted over 250 attendees from across the UK, including funeral directors, healthcare professionals, chaplains, and regional representatives, all of whom play a vital role in supporting communities at the end of life.

This year’s conference comes at a pivotal time for the sector, with the implementation of the new Death Certification Reforms and the introduction of the statutory Medical Examiner System on 9th September 2024.

These reforms require independent scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths in England and Wales, representing a significant change in how bereavement services are delivered.

The Chairman of NBC, Mohamed Omer MBE, welcomed the attendees, reflecting on the challenges and successes of the past year. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between funeral directors, local authorities, and other key stakeholders to ensure the reforms are implemented smoothly.

Despite the hurdles posed by these changes, the NBC continues to make strides in improving timely burials. NBC has also advocated an increase in the use of non-invasive autopsy to preserve the dignity and respect of the deceased and bereaved families. NBC welcomes the introduction of Digital Autopsy services in Manchester, Leicester and London and hope this can be replicated in other areas.

A highlight of the event was the address from the National Medical Examiner of England and Wales, Professor Alan Fletcher, who gave an update on the first week of the system, the challenges and the successes and underscored the critical role Medical Examiner services in supporting timely burials for faith communities.

He emphasised the continued effort to encourage local Medical Examiner services to understand and support the needs of their communities and enhance bereavement services nationwide.

Mr Terry Davies, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Justice, noted the reforms represent the biggest changes in over 50 years and that the changes are complex involving different government departments. He added that 8 different Legislations (acts) have needed to be changed.

HM Coroner Dr James Adeley Senior Coroner for Lancashire and HM Coroner Catherine Mason Senior Coroner for Leicester City provided a coronial perspective on the reforms introduced on 9th September.

Workshops and presentations focused on advance care planning, medical examiner service, death reforms, and the critical importance of maintaining dignity and respect for the deceased. These discussions provided attendees with practical insights and the opportunity to network with leading experts.

The NBC’s commitment to raising standards across the bereavement services sector remains strong. Through its role as a national representative body, the NBC is dedicated to ensuring that the voices and needs of Muslim funeral directors and bereaved families are reflected in policies and reforms.

This conference was another step forward in that mission, bringing together diverse voices to continue improving care for all.

For more information, please contact NBC Communications Team at info@nbc.org.uk