Isle of Wight man waiting 2 years for Inquest into partner's death
The Island's Coroner's Service is said to have one of the worst backlog of cases in the country
An Island man has been waiting 818 days for an inquest on his partner, the Isle of Wight Council chamber has heard.
In a public question, Moses Gibson asked how long County Hall has been aware of the Isle of Wight’s inquest “problems” and what the main reasons given to the chief coroner for the “long delays” by the local coroner have been.
The inquiry comes after Isle of Wight East Conservative MP Joe Robertson described the Island’s coroner as a “problem” in the House of Commons last week.
Mr Robertson said the “backlog of cases in the Isle of Wight coroner’s service is the worst in the country causing pain and distress to too many families, some of whom who are waiting 800 days to find out what happened to their loved ones”.
Mr Gibson said: “In my hand, this is the guide to coroner services for bereaved people issued by the Ministry of Justice.
“On page 20, it says the inquest hearing should take place within six months or as soon as reasonably possible. If a coroner has not completed their investigation within 12 months, they must report it to the chief coroner giving reasons for the delay.
“On page 35, it advises me to complain to the local authority which funds the coroner’s service you are dissatisfied with.
“I and my family have been waiting 818 days for an inquest on my partner…and I have not been contacted regularly – other people have been waiting almost one and a half thousand days.”
Council leader Phil Jordan responded: “The council and HM Senior Coroner are working together to address the delays in inquests being completed and a full review of the service is being undertaken and will inform a detailed recovery plan.
“Working together, the council and the coroner are identifying how the delays can be reduced to enable inquests to progress in a timely way while not compromising the quality and thoroughness of investigations.”
Coroner Caroline Sumeray has been approached for comment.