An astounding number of aborted and miscarried fetuses have been incinerated in the U.K.

The Department of Health reportedly issued a ban on the practice Sunday night.

According to Opposing Views, at least 15,500 aborted and miscarried fetuses were incinerated as "clinical waste" at British hospitals.

Some of these U.K. hospitals reportedly use "waste-to-energy" systems to generate heat for the facility.

Recent investigation by the Channel 4 news program "Dispatches" revealed that 27 National Health Service trusts were incinerating aborted fetuses in the course of two years.

Ten National Health Service Trusts reportedly admitted to burning fetal remains with their garbage.

Two others reportedly burned fetal remains in waste-to-energy systems.

Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, one of Britain's most leading hospitals, incinerated 797 fetuses under 13 weeks gestation in their waste-to-energy system.

Although a spokeswoman for Ipswich Hospital Trust stated that the trust "takes great care over fetal remains," it has been reported that the hospital incinerated 1,101 remains from 2011 to 2013 in its waste-to-energy system.

Health minister Dr. Dan Poulter stated, "This practice is totally unacceptable. While the vast majority of hospitals are acting in the appropriate way, that must be the case for all hospitals and the Human Tissue Authority has now been asked to ensure that it acts on this issue without delay."

Sadly, mothers of the aborted and miscarried fetuses were told that their babies were "cremated," rather than used for heating purposes.

Chief Inspector of Hospitals Sir Mike Richards expressed his disapproval of the practice by stating, "I am disappointed trust may not be informing or consulting women and their families."

Richards continued, "This breaches our standard on respecting and involving people who use services and I'm keen for 'Dispatches' to share their evidence with us. We scrutinize information of concern and can inspect unannounced, if required."