Harrogate funeral director says families can't grieve proper due to pandemic
Restrictions on the number of attendees is having a negative impact on people coming to terms with loss
A Harrogate funeral director has warned families haven't been able to grieve properly due to coronavirus restrictions.
At present a maximum of 30 people can attend a funeral, but Neil Milsted who runs Neil and Sonya Milsted Funeral Directors in Harrogate told Greatest Hits not every venue can meet that number as they aren't big enough to allow for social distancing.
Neil Milsted, said: "You've got a little old lady who has probably been married for 70 years and she's lost her husband. She's now alone at home and can't see anyone because she's self isolating and now at her husband's funeral her sons and daughters are sat two meters away and can't comfort here. It's very difficult to deal with and to see.
"I've been to one venue where they would usually have 100 seats out and it's been whittled down to ten seats all spaced out. It looked like the place had been robbed it was completely awful. Those families who have to sit in that room must feel like they're a million miles away from each other."
When the country went into another national lockdown the number of people allowed to attend funerals wasn't changed.
Religious, belief-based or commemorative events linked to a personâs death, such as stone setting ceremonies, the scattering of ashes or a wake, can also continue with up to 6 people in attendance. In this guidance, the phrase âcommemorative eventsâ will be used to refer to such events.
Once services have been held, Mr Milsted said he'll still get clients coming to them after the service just to have someone to talk to.
"A lot of older people after the funeral service would come back to us just to say hello and give us a card and it's because they're so lonely and can't go out and see anyone.
"We have to be practical when we're planning things. It's a sad and scary time for families and if we turn up in three piece suits, visors, masks, gloves it's going to frighten people. Yes, we're going through a pandemic but we can still provide a service which is safe and dignified."
There were no updates from the Prime Minister earlier on the number of people allowed to attend funerals when he set out his roadmap out of lockdown earlier this week.