Funeral Director Banned After Disturbing Baby Body Handling Complaints

A funeral director in Leeds, Amie Upton, has been barred from working with hospitals in the city following complaints about her handling of deceased infants. The ban was implemented after a mother reported a distressing experience upon finding her baby's body at Upton's home.

The mother, Zoe Ward, had contacted Upton's baby loss support and funeral service, Florrie’s Army, after her son died. Ward expected her baby to be cared for in a professional setting. However, when she visited Upton's home, she was shocked to find her son's body in the living room, propped up in a baby bouncer and "watching" cartoons. Another deceased baby was also present. Ward described the scene as "mucky" and "dirty."

Another couple reported that they were initially told their baby was being kept at a funeral home, but later discovered the child was at Upton's home. The mother expressed concern that the body had not been kept at the correct temperature.

Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust stated that it had been monitoring Upton's activities since 2021 and had received "several serious concerns" over the past few years. The trust has since banned Upton from its mortuaries and maternity wards. The trust emphasized that Upton and Florrie’s Army are not endorsed by or associated with the hospitals.

The chief nurse at the trust, Rabina Tindale, stated that safeguarding measures have been in place since 2021. These measures include monitoring Upton's visits to the mortuary and ensuring that any handover of a body is conducted in accordance with trust policies.

Currently, there are no specific regulations in England and Wales governing funeral homes, including how bodies should be handled or stored. While professional associations exist with codes of conduct, membership is not mandatory.