By Coroner’s services merger delays ‘hurting’ their ability to carry out their work
Delays the between Lincolnshire and North and North East Lincolnshire merger for the Coroner’s services are “hurting” their ability to carry out their work, bosses have said.
The annual report on Lincolnshire Coroners Services will face the Lincolnshire County Council’s Public and Protection and Scrutiny Committee next Tuesday.
It will elaborate on the “steadily” increasing caseload, with more ‘complex’ being left behind during the recovery from the pandemic.
The report, by Senior Coroner for Lincolnshire Paul Smith, said: “The merger of Lincolnshire Coroner’s Service with North Lincolnshire and Grimsby to create a Greater Lincolnshire Coroner Service remains the elephant in the room for so many decisions.”
Mr Smith is currently being shared between Lincolnshire County Council and North Lincolnshire Council, along with a local assistant coroner. A second full-time coroner also left.
The office of the Chief Coroner advised that the post of permanent senior coroner cannot be recruited until the merger with North Lincolnshire and Grimsby is resolved.
“The current situation is not one which can continue indefinitely. It is likely to generate delays in the listing of more complex cases, particularly in North Lincs, and is unfair on the bereaved,” he said.
“The ongoing delay is hurting both Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire,” he later added.
“Unless a sensible timeframe for a decision is announced shortly there is a compelling argument that Lincolnshire should be permitted to proceed with its own recruitment and to deal with the merger separately if or when it happens.”
Mr Smith says the service has seen a near 40% increase in open inquests, adding that “at every level the service is under pressure”.
The caseload is currently around 400, down from 420, but still representing a 120 case increase since January 2021.
Mr Smith said at the start of 2021, the caseload was reduced, though he said this was an “artificial picture” because “those remaining were largely the more complex cases, or those requiring a jury”.
Mr Smith said the service had “faced the unprecedented challenges presented by the pandemic head on”.
“The service] has received positive feedback from families they have supported in finding closure of the sudden death of a loved one and it is to be hoped moves forward with renewed optimism in the future,” he said.
