The under-fire Isle of Wight Coroner’s Service will be examined at County Hall this evening (Thursday) amid a hefty 61-point Recovery Plan.
Continually developed and delivered against a backdrop of ongoing criticism from grieving residents, elected representatives and watchdogs, the ‘live’ Plan could be endorsed by councillors tonight.
According to a report due to be presented to the environment and community protection committee (ECPC), the waiting time for inquests is reported as being the worst in England and Wales.
Only 38 inquests were concluded by Isle of Wight Coroner Caroline Sumeray last year, with an average wait time of 76 weeks – more than double the national average, according to the ECPC report.
In October, it was revealed that more than 400 families waited over a year to find out how their loved ones died. This is the second highest number in the UK, according to the Chief Coroner’s Annual Report for 2024.
It says:
“Regrettably, the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Service has been performing poorly. The Ministry of Justice guidance to bereaved families indicates that the inquest hearing should take place within six months or as soon as reasonably possible after the death has been reported to the coroner.
The report says reasons for the delays vary but historically can be connected to staffing shortages, challenges in securing pathology support, court facilities not being available, relying on outside agencies finishing their investigations and a ‘lack of judicial progress.”
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County Hall says ‘significant progress’ has been made to tackle the delays, through the creation of a purpose-built court facility, completed in October 2024, increased staffing and investment in extra support.
The Service Recovery Plan due to be discussed on today lists 61 actions.
Those completed include ensuring bereaved families guidance is added to the Isle of Wight Council’s website, prioritising staff learning and development, reviewing officer presence in court and agreeing the complaints process with Mrs Sumeray.
But ones marked in red – ‘not started’ – include developing a bereaved families charter and exploring procurement options for pathology.
Another action, scanning completed inquest files to a digital case management and workflow system, had a 31st March, 2025, target date. ECPC will meet at County Hall at 17:00 on Thursday evening.
How about a simple 2 point plan –
Done!
The state of the Coroner Service on the Island is a disgrace. It is fine the couincil looking at a 61 point plan but ultimately it must be for the Coroner to get her house in order and to account for the unacceptable delays. There is no point simply throwing more resource such as more staff at the problem unless you can first get to the bottom of why the staff turnover is so high.
91 weeks we waited for my Father’s inquest. Ms Sumeray wasn’t very nice during the inquest and pointed the blame at everyone except herself. She even made a swipe at myself because I had dared to criticise her publicly. Very poor. Bereaved families deserve much better.
We need to revert to the old system of having an Island solicitor as the coroner and not a London barrister.
This is a disgrace that this totally arrogant & inappropriate Coroners attitude has been allowed to continue for so long, what a let down for the families who have been treated so poorly, & should have had respect & dignity & dealt with swiftly. Sack this incompetent woman who seems to blame everyone else except herself.
Firstly the coroners office has nothing to do with the isle if wight council, it can talk about it all it lkes but it it solely answerable to the ministry of justice, unfortunetly the coroner was a political appointment albeit a bad one.