The coronavirus pandemic has placed a tremendous strain on all aspects of society, with a new paper from the University of Huddersfield highlighting how local authorities are feeling the pinch.
The paper highlights how the corresponding increase in mortality rates and number of staff absences is placing a huge strain on the ability of local authorities to issue things such as death certificates, which in turn is leading to a bottleneck in burials and cremations. The authors argue that even if fatality is at the lower end of expectations, it threatens to overwhelm bereavement services.
The study explores data from previous pandemics to help assess the readiness of local authorities across England. The analysis was originally performed last year to predict the readiness in the event of a flu pandemic, but the data has since been updated to take account of the unique characteristics of the coronavirus.
Breaking point
The paper reveals that burial and cremation services could exceed their capacity within four or five weeks of the outbreak. It also highlights how both cemetery and body storage space are in short supply, with the possibility that mass graves will have to be used.
They believe that the business continuity plans of many coroners are also lacking, and despite knowing that the death toll will inevitably rise, plans are likely to be insufficient to cope.
“Underestimating the mortality rate could reduce the effectiveness of business continuity plans, whereas knowing what to expect will focus attention on the resources required,” they say. “An option would be to have an escalating business continuity plan, where the service prepares for a worst-case scenario, which can then be scaled back depending on the anticipated mortality rate.”
They recommend potentially ring-fencing staff to ensure minimum staffing levels, even under the most severe shortfalls, whilst they could also explore the use of technology, such as online death registration services to help speed up the process.
“The focus has been on the operational implications for a local authority service but the issues this paper raises are primarily about people and how we, as a society, treat our citizens in life and in death,” the authors conclude. “In a pandemic situation, there is likely to be a necessary change to the ‘business as usual’ death and bereavement management services. How humanely these are managed is hugely important for those affected at the time of crisis and the humanity of the government’s response will reflect the nature and values of our society, and will be judged accordingly”.
