Isle Of Wight Coroner’s Service Faces Scrutiny Amid 61-Point Recovery Plan

The Isle of Wight Coroner’s Service is set to be examined at County Hall today (Thursday) as councillors review a 61-point Recovery Plan aimed at tackling lengthy inquest delays.

The service has faced criticism from grieving families, councillors, and watchdogs for some of the longest inquest waiting times in England and Wales.

Last year, only 38 inquests were completed by Coroner Caroline Sumeray, with an average wait of 76 weeks — more than double the national average.

Over 400 families waited more than a year to learn how their loved ones died, the second highest number in the UK, according to the Chief Coroner’s Annual Report 2024.

The council report cites multiple causes for delays, including staff shortages, limited pathology support, unavailable court facilities, and reliance on external investigations.

County Hall says progress is being made, with a purpose-built court facility completed in October 2024, extra staffing, and increased support for the service.

The Recovery Plan includes actions such as adding bereaved family guidance to the council website, staff training, reviewing court officer presence, and agreeing the complaints process.

Outstanding actions include developing a bereaved families charter, exploring pathology procurement, and digitising inquest files — some with past target dates.

The Environment and Community Protection Committee (ECPC) will discuss the plan at 5pm on Thursday.