A funeral director in Leeds has been banned from working with hospitals after a mother reported finding her deceased baby propped up in a bouncer “watching” cartoons at the woman’s home. Amie Upton has been barred from NHS maternity wards and mortuaries in the city after keeping babies’ bodies at her house under conditions that one grandmother likened to a horror film.
Upton, 38, told the BBC she had only received two complaints while operating Florrie’s Army, a baby loss support and funeral service named after her own stillborn daughter in 2017. She declined to comment when contacted by the Guardian.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed it banned Upton from its mortuaries and maternity wards earlier this year. A Facebook page for Florrie’s Army advertised funeral services for babies, along with clothing, handprints, and photographs.
Zoe Ward reached out to Upton after her three-week-old son, Bleu, died from brain damage in 2021. She initially thought the service sounded “brilliant” but was horrified when she visited Upton’s home and found her son’s body in the living room, placed in a baby bouncer in front of cartoons. Ward described the scene as dirty and unsettling, with a cat scratcher in the corner, a barking dog, and another deceased baby on the sofa. She immediately called her mother, upset and screaming that the situation was not right.
Another couple was led to believe their baby was being held at a funeral home in Headingley, but over a week later, they discovered their daughter was actually at Upton’s home, five miles away. The mother expressed concern that her child’s body had not been kept at the proper temperature, noting a strong odor as if it hadn’t been refrigerated.
The BBC reported evidence that babies’ bodies were not stored in a refrigerated cot, despite Upton having one available. One grandmother described the situation as “crazy” and comparable to a horror film.
The hospitals trust stated it had received “several serious concerns” over recent years, which were reported to police, safeguarding services, regulators, and the coroner. The trust had been monitoring Upton’s visits to St James’s Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary since 2021 and has since enforced the ban.
Rabina Tindale, the trust’s chief nurse, emphasized that neither Upton nor Florrie’s Army is endorsed by or associated with Leeds Teaching Hospitals. She noted that strict safeguarding measures are in place, including escorted visits to the mortuary and adherence to trust policies for body handovers.
In England and Wales, there are no specific regulations governing funeral homes, including standards for handling or storing bodies.Two associations, the National Association of Funeral Directors and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, have a joint code of conduct that sets standards for inspections. However, membership in these organizations is not mandatory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about a funeral director keeping babies bodies at home written in a clear and natural tone
General Beginner Questions
1 What exactly happened
A funeral director was discovered to have stored the bodies of deceased babies in his own private home instead of in a proper regulated funeral facility
2 Why is this so horrifying for the families
Families entrusted their loved ones to a professional for respectful and lawful care Discovering their babies were kept in an unregulated nonsecure home environment is a profound betrayal and adds immense trauma to their grief
3 Is this illegal
Yes in virtually all places Funeral directors are licensed professionals who must follow strict health safety and ethical regulations which require bodies to be stored in approved refrigerated facilities
4 How did they find out
These situations are typically discovered through a tip to authorities an investigation into the business or tragically when families receive the wrong remains or notice something is wrong
Questions About Impact Aftermath
5 What are the health risks of storing bodies this way
Storing bodies without proper refrigeration can lead to decomposition and the potential spread of pathogens posing a public health risk
6 How can the families be sure they received the correct remains of their child
This is a primary concern Authorities will launch an investigation that likely includes DNA testing to correctly identify each child and ensure they are returned to their rightful families
7 What kind of legal action can the families take
Families can pursue several avenues including filing civil lawsuits for emotional distress negligence and mishandling of remains Criminal charges against the funeral director are also likely
8 Who is investigating this and what will they do
This is typically investigated by a combination of police the states licensing board for funeral directors and possibly the FBI if laws were broken across state lines They will secure the remains investigate the scope of the issue and gather evidence for prosecution
Practical Advanced Questions
9 What should I do if Im worried this might have happened to my family
Contact the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the funeral home is located You can also file a complaint with your states funeral board or licensing authority
