Aberdeen City Council fully acknowledges the contents of Dame Elish Angiolini's report and will take the recommendations on board.
A statement by Aberdeen City Council Chief Executive Angela Scott can be viewed.
View the Statement Video
The report can be viewed here Report of the National Cremation Investigation
Support
A dedicated phone line has been set up for anyone with concerns or inquiries arising from the publication of the report. The number is 01224 522485.
If you have a query or concern about a cremation which occurred in Aberdeen in the past, please call the number above.
Families affected can seek help and support from SANDS (Still Birth and Neo-natal Death charity). The helpline is 08707 606649 or email help@aberdeensands.com.
Background
A number of other investigations relating to infant cremations at Aberdeen Crematorium have been carried out over the last few years. The results of these informed the ACC Policy Statement Relating to the Cremation of Babies and Infants which was published in June 2015.
In June 2014, the Scottish Government published Lord Bonomy's Infant Cremation Commission Report which provided national recommendations for improvements.
Earlier in June 2014, Aberdeen City Council issued a statement in response to a serious allegation received regarding practices at Hazlehead Crematorium.
In light of this, the findings of the independent audit carried out in 2013 were reconsidered. The Hazlehead Crematorium Internal Audit Report was published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to provide an overview of procedures and practices for the cremation of infants and young children at Hazlehead Crematorium.
More information
A detailed summary of the procedure used for Procedure for Infant Cremations at Aberdeen Crematorium was published in November 2014.
In May 2015, Aberdeen City Council published information about infant cremations at Aberdeen Crematorium between 1975 and 2014 in response to a request for this information.
Please note, the figures given in reports and responses vary depending on the specific age group referred to, and whether figures for different age groups have been combined.
Hazlehead Crematorium: Internal Audit Report 2013
An audit into procedures for the cremation of infants and young children at Aberdeen City Council's Hazlehead Crematorium has been completed.
The audit was ordered by Aberdeen City Council Chief Executive Valerie Watts in January 2013 in light of concerns surrounding issues at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh and questions which were being raised about procedures at other crematoria across Scotland. It was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and aimed to provide an overview of procedures and practices at Hazlehead Crematorium.
In light of this audit, Aberdeen City Council has been looking to formalise its policy in respect of the cremation process for infants aged 18 months or less. This could include producing a formal statement on the cremation process which would be provided to parents or guardians by funeral directors or NHS Grampian. The Council is also considering the direction from the Scottish Government and the findings of the Infant Cremation Commission and is amending its policy accordingly.
Contact details
If you have any concerns surrounding past practices at Hazlehead Crematorium please contact Aberdeen City Council directly:
Bereavement Services
Aberdeen Crematorium
Skene Road
Aberdeen
AB15 8PT
03000 200 292
cremations@aberdeencity.gov.uk