East Lothian Crematorium rated ‘outstanding’ by industry inspector

East Lothian Crematorium & Memorial Gardens earned an overall grade of “Outstanding” after being scrutinised by an industry inspector.

David McNaughton, an inspector for the Federation of Burial & Cremation Authorities (FBCA), visited the crematorium in March.

The Federation is the UK’s principal representative of burial and cremation authorities, providing a range of services to support its members care for over 400,000 funerals a year.

The FBCA’s Crematorium Compliance Scheme involves scrutinising eight separate key areas of service delivery, covering operational procedures, statutory and regulatory compliance, the quality of service provided and the standard of facilities.

East Lothian Crematorium was rated ‘outstanding’ in seven of the eight key areas, earning a perfect 100% score in three of the categories; Ceremony Facilities, Cremation Facilities, and Service & Staff.

The formal letter which accompanied the results of the inspection notes: “The crematorium inspector found the level of service provision to be outstanding.”

East Lothian Crematorium & Memorial Gardens is part of Westerleigh Group, one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, with 42 sites in England, Scotland and Wales, and which is trusted by more families than any other provider to deliver funerals for their loved ones.

All Westerleigh's locations are set within beautifully landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide peaceful places for people to visit and reflect, while benefitting from exceptional care and support from its teams.

Manager Gemma Smith said: “It was particularly satisfying to hear that the inspector found the level of service provision here as ‘outstanding’ and that we were scored 100% for ‘Service & Staff’.

“We put families at the heart of everything we do, and in order to provide them with the exceptional care and support we have built our reputation on, we need to have the right people in crematorium team.

“I am proud of the professionalism and dedication of my team, who are all so passionate about what they do, and the words of the inspector are a welcome endorsement of the commitment and dedication I see demonstrated every day. This inspection result belongs to them.

“We are committed to upholding the highest standards for the families we serve, working closely with industry partners and regulators.

“Through collaboration with the FBCA, we ensure quality, compliance and compassionate care, delivering exceptional support and peace of mind to every family we serve.”
He added: “Membership of the FBCA is entirely voluntary and not all crematorium operators choose to join.

“However, we take great pride in the consistently high standards we uphold across every aspect of our work and that’s why we welcome the opportunity for our facilities and practices to be independently assessed by industry experts.

“Having this independent scrutiny should provide the families and communities we serve with even more reassurance that they can always expect the highest levels of care and support from us.”

To find out more about East Lothian Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, the services it provides, and the exceptional services it delivers, visit:  www.eastlothiancrematorium.co.uk