An Edinburgh private funeral home has announced it will close on Monday September 19 to honour the queen.
Fosters Funeral Directors said they would contact families affected as businesses across the capital and rest of Scotland announced closures on the day of her Majesty's funeral.
The news comes as bereft and grieving families have been assured by Edinburgh City Council that funerals at the council operated Mortonhall Crematorium will continue as planned on Monday 19 September despite the recently approved bank holiday to mark the late Queen’s funeral.
NHS Lothian have also confirmed that appointments and schedules have essentially remained unchanged.
A spokesperson for NHS Lothian confirmed that Monday 19 September was previously listed as a public bank holiday prior to the Queen’s death and the announcement of a nation wide bank holiday . As such, NHS Lothian advised that service plans will remain as previously organised.
"As per standard public holiday arrangements, which were in place prior to the announcement of Her Majesty’s funeral due to the regional public holiday in Lothian, GP practices and many community pharmacies will be closed.
We’d encourage anyone who needs a prescription to make arrangements to collect this before the weekend. If you’re booked in for a flu jab and/or a COVID-19 winter booster at a local pharmacy, the pharmacy should contact you directly if there are any changes to your appointment.
Elective surgeries have not been scheduled for Monday and the majority of outpatient clinics will be closed. No winter vaccination appointments have been scheduled in community clinics for Monday, but some staff clinics will still be taking place on our sites.
If you need urgent medical care over the bank holiday weekend, please contact NHS 24 on 111 for advice and help us keep A&E free for critical emergencies."
Edinburgh City Council has advised that all council bereavement staff, including mortuary staff, will be at work as usual on Monday:
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“Funerals at Mortonhall Crematorium had already been booked and post mortems already arranged and these will take place as normal.”
However, the council could only provide information about council managed services. According to the Council, the decision to make alternative arrangements for the Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday rests with each private funeral home, church or crematoria.
At least one Edinburgh based funeral home has already announced alternative arrangements for Monday.
Fosters Funeral Directors said:
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth ll. We understand that there will also be many supporters affected by this sad news.
“As a mark of respect, we paused communications after hearing the news, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the Royal Family for their loss. Fosters, like many other businesses around the country, will be closed on Monday, 19th September 2022 as this will be a National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty’s funeral. We will be in touch to make alternative arrangements with the families affected by this. ”
Council registration services have confirmed that offices will be closed on Monday, and a council spokesperson said there are plans in place for any urgent death or birth registrations.
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