North Wales funeral director warns of dire situation faced during coronavirus outbreak

A North Wales funeral director has warned of the dire situation facing undertakers if coronavirus deaths continue to rise.

Jonathan Harty, from Tom Owen and Sons in Llandudno, said there could be a shortage of protective equipment for people working in the industry.

He said most suppliers were restricting personal protective equipment shipments to 10 units per business.

He added:  “If there are a lot of deaths from coronavirus, and we haven’t got enough body bags, we may not be able to take them to the hospitals because they have to be in proper body bags.

“They won’t accept them otherwise.

“Personal protective equipment should be available. At the levels the UK Government is talking about we could potentially run out.

“We’ve had some advice from the coroner’s office about safe removal of a body – but nothing from Welsh government.”

He added: “We would naturally take precautions because we deal with infection all the time, so it’s just about being careful.

“It would have been nice for Welsh government and the local council to give us guidelines.

“We don’t want to cause panic but there needs to be some guidance. We have to be careful.”

On Wednesday, Conwy council sent out guidance to funeral directors. A letter to undertakers advised suggesting customers to “only attend services (cremations and burials) if absolutely essential”.

The letter added: “At this time we are not restricting families and/or mourners but do encourage people to follow the National advice.”

Nine days ago the Irish Association of Funeral Directors said the deceased should be committed at crematoria or cemetries straight away, with a memorial service held when the pandemic had subsided.

The Church in Wales updated its advice on gatherings for funeral services yesterday evening.

It said all church gatherings “should no longer take place”, including church funeral services – but added clergy could preside over crematorium gatherings.

It is advising graveside services only. All other congregations must be 10 people or less, including the vicar, it added.

Mr Harty said: “We have had absolutely no guidance whatsoever about large gatherings at funerals from Welsh Government. We’ve only just received advice from the council today.”

He said fewer people were attending crematorium services now.

When asked about guidance for attending funerals, the Welsh government pointed to the infection control guidelines for the Covid-19 coronavirus, for those who believed they had symptoms and were self-isolating.

It is believed officials from the National Association of Funeral Directors were meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this week to clarify issues around funeral advice and their members’ safety although managament of crematoria is a devolved issue.

A spokeswoman for the St Asaph Diocese of the Church in Wales said: “Our guidance relating to the ceasing of public worship applies to funerals in church.

“Clergy may continue to take a funeral service at the graveside and at crematoria (adhering to such guidance as the crematorium authority may give).

“Once the wider situation makes it safe so to do, the bereaved should be offered opportunities for remembering their loved ones in church at a future date.

“Churches will remain open for prayer. Baptisms or funerals (or weddings in special circumstances) can go ahead with no more than 10 people present (including the vicar).”

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter