STAFF at Aberdeen crematorium feel they are the "victims" of an investigation launched after it was revealed that babies had been cremated along with unrelated adults.
A report by Robert Swanson, Inspector of Crematoria Scotland, said that the "air needed to be cleared" following the scandal, with workers uncertain of what the future holds.
The inspection was carried out following Dame Elish Angiolini's recently published national investigation found infants had been cremated along with unrelated adults over many years in ''unethical and abhorrent practices'' at Aberdeen Crematorium.
It was found in some cases that an infant coffin was placed at the side of or on top of an unrelated adult coffin and both cremated together.
Many staff had the ''extraordinary belief'' there would be no recovered ashes from babies up to the age of 18 months despite the fact they were recovered in other crematoriums.
It led to an apology by Aberdeen City Council chief executive Angela Scott and an urgent inspection by Mr Swanson.
Carried out on June 30 - three days after the investigation was published - he found "operational procedures to be of a good standard" with no evidence that current working practices were comparable to those which had given rise to the scandal.
Mr Swanson said: "Of most concern to the Inspector was being advised that a number of the five employees currently working at the Crematorium, who were in post during the period subject to the investigation, regard themselves as being 'the victims'.
"Staff were clearly very apprehensive about what the future holds for them and intimated that a representative of their 'Union' was in attendance that day.
"It is the opinion of the Inspector that if public confidence in the Cremation Authority and the Crematorium is to be restored, then the 'air needs to be cleared' with staff at the earliest opportunity."
He added: "A number of positive and good practice was observed, along with several other points worthy of consideration by the Cremation Authority."
"Good practice was observed during a demonstration of the cremulation of infant ashes.
"Good practice was observed in the procedure of recording proof of identity when ashes are being collected, and recording the means of identification on the back of the 'yellow card'.
"Good practice was seen in the handling of coffins at all stages, with two attendants always present."
Some relatives and bereavement groups have called for ''action to be taken'' over the previous practices uncovered at the crematorium.
The Crown Office said Dame Elish's report is "under consideration".
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “The report has been published on the City Council’s website and has been shared with all elected members of the Council, Aberdeen’s MSPs and MPs.
“As the Chief Executive stated to Council at its meeting on Wednesday 29 June, she is currently preparing a full report for Council in August on the implications of the findings of the National Cremation Investigation.
"She now confirms that her report will also now include a response to the Inspector of Crematoria Scotland’s observations and considerations in relation to Aberdeen Crematorium.”
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