Consultation 2004
Feedback from 2004 Consultation Exercise
Introduction
As part of our commitment to continually improve the service we offer, we in bereavement services regularly seek the opinion of people who have been in the position of having to use this service. In September 2004, we issued 200 questionnaires to families who had recently been bereaved. We thank everyone who at a very difficult time completed the questionnaire or who wrote to ourselves personally to comment.
As a result of some of your comments the service was accredited recently with Charter Mark recognition. This is for excellence in public service. Also during 2004 the Council's Scrutiny Panel reviewed all the policies and provision of the service. Where appropriate the panel congratulated the service for its hard work and commitment but also made several recommendations.
Feedback
200 questionnaires issued. 82 were returned. Questionnaires were broken down into 5 categories.
- Facilities
- Access to the service
- Staff
- Information and Choice
- Overall Satisfaction
- 78% rated the facilities as average or better
- 84% rated access to the service as excellent
- 100% rated attitude of staff as excellent
- 93% rated quality of information as good
- 90% said overall satisfaction was good
Problems Highlighted from Consultation
- Funerals appear to be on a 'conveyor belt' system
- Families feel rushed and under pressure to make way for the next funeral
- Memorial plaques are not situated adjacent to Rosebeds
- Condition of footpaths
- Unauthorised memorials & tasteless memorabilia
- Procedure of lying unsafe memorials down
- Condition of Baby Garden
Improvements
- Major footpaths repairs at Droylsden Cemetery
- Installation of a Hindu Deity to meet cultural and religious needs
- New toilets installed at Denton Cemetery
- Work has commenced on the new Garden of Remembrance at Dukinfield Crematorium
- New ramp constructed at Droylsden Cemetery Chapel creating easier access for everyone
- New signs installed at all 8 cemeteries
Memorial Safety
Memorial safety had been very much in the public eye locally and nationally. This council has been proactive in taking measures to deal with this important safety issue. We have introduced a Memorial Safety Policy.
Many people have understandably been distressed at finding their family headstone laid down and have raised this issue in this consultation exercise. Whilst this council has a legal duty to carry out the inspections, we have also listened to your concerns and tried to improve on the inspection regime and procedures.
We have invested in the purchase of a gantry.
The Gantry enables us to lift the larger memorials up and to refix them safely. This also improves the aesthetics of the cemeteries.
We have also increased the Public Relations aspect of the safety programme to try and bring awareness to as many people as possible.