West Lothian Crematorium praised for ‘excellent level of service’
A Scottish Government inspector said Westerleigh Group can be “justly proud of the high level of service provided by staff at West Lothian Crematorium.”
Robert Swanson, QPM, Senior Inspector of Burial Cremation and Funeral Directors (Scotland) visited the crematorium at the end of January.
He concluded: “West Lothian Crematorium continues to operate at a high level, staffed by an experienced, dedicated and committed small team.
“No shortcomings were noted in any aspect of the cremation process, with good working practices observed throughout.
“The close working relationship and willingness of staff to help others within the confines of the crematorium is evident to all and was also shown to be the case by their participation in charitable events.”
He added: “An example of their commitment and dedication is demonstrated by their attendance at the cremation during Storm Eowyn, ensuring all services and cremations that families wished to proceed, went ahead as scheduled.”
West Lothian Crematorium is part of Westerleigh Group, one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, with 41 sites in England, Scotland, and Wales, all set within beautifully landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.
All sites are regularly inspected by the Scottish Government and the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (FBCA) in England and Wales.
The inspection included examining procedures and processes, safeguards as well as Mr Swanson examining random samples of forms and documentation and concluded that high standards were consistently applied.
He noted that, in terms of administration processes, “all were found to be of a high standard, with noted attention to detail and a number of in-built safeguards to ensure total compliance with the instructions of the applicant at all stages.”
He also examined the cremation process, all associated documentation, from the point of arrival of a coffin through all the subsequent stages to dispersal of ashes, and concluded, “All were found to be of a high standard with a number of procedural safeguards in place to ensure continuity of identification throughout the different stages.”
West Lothian Crematorium Manager Carole Rae said: “I was particularly pleased that the inspector highlighted the dedication and commitment of the team here.
“People are at the heart of everything we do, as we strive to provide exceptional service and care to the families we support, and we can only do that by having the right kind of caring professionals who are committed to delivering the highest standards in all that they do.
“It’s a well-deserved endorsement of their continuing hard work that Mr Swanson has delivered such a positive inspection report, and I am certainly very proud of the high level of service we provide.”
To find out more about West Lothian Crematorium, the services it provides, and the exceptional care and support it delivers, visit: www.westlothiancrematorium.co.uk
