A woman named Amie Upton, aged 38, has been accused of placing a deceased child in a baby bouncer while watching cartoons. This incident came to light after a BBC investigation, leading to her exclusion from NHS maternity wards and mortuaries in Leeds.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust confirmed the ban on Ms. Upton, who operates Florrie’s Army, from their facilities earlier this year. The BBC probe revealed a distressing account where a mother found her deceased son in a baby bouncer watching cartoons in Ms. Upton’s living room.
Another mother, whose stillborn child was under Ms. Upton’s care, described the experience as akin to a horror film. Ms. Upton refuted the accusations as “ridiculous” when interviewed by The Mirror.
The BBC reported on Zoe Ward’s baby, Bleu, who tragically passed away at three weeks old due to brain damage at Leeds General Infirmary in 2021. Ms. Ward entrusted Florrie’s Army with arranging the funeral, only to later find her son’s body placed in a baby bouncer in Ms. Upton’s living room.
Disturbed by the sight, Ms. Ward promptly arranged for another funeral director to transfer Bleu’s body from Ms. Upton’s care. This unsettling experience left Ms. Ward feeling upset and angry.
Additionally, a couple shared their unsettling encounter with Ms. Upton after their daughter was stillborn at St James’ hospital in Leeds. They had not consented to their daughter being taken to Ms. Upton’s house, where they eventually found her, contrary to their expectations.
Ms. Upton’s practices have raised concerns, prompting an investigation by West Yorkshire Police. However, no criminal activities were identified following thorough inquiries.
Despite the controversies, many families have positively reviewed Florrie’s Army services on platforms like Facebook. Ms. Upton defended her actions, stating that she had not housed children at her residence for several years and clarified the circumstances surrounding the baby bouncer incident.
The funeral industry remains unregulated in England and Wales, lacking specific guidelines on body storage and funeral director qualifications. The government is yet to respond to calls for statutory regulations in England.