Island Echo has learnt that 6 out of 7 staff members recruited to the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Office over the past 5 years have quit their jobs, raising fresh questions about the service.
The revelation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Coroner’s service, which has already been labelled ‘not fit for purpose’ by senior Isle of Wight politicians during the recent State of the Island Debate, as previously reported by Island Echo.
The Isle of Wight has the worst inquest backlog in England and Wales, with average waiting times now standing at 76 weeks. In 2024 alone, just 38 out of 123 inquests were concluded.
Staffing issues have been partially blamed for the buildup to date, but it is said the service now employs a total of 7 staff members, made up of Coroner’s Officers and Senior Coroner’s Officers.
But a recent Freedom of Information request has revealed that retention is an ongoing problem, with 6 out of 7 people recruited over the past 5 years all resigning from their posts. The exact reason for the resignation of 6 staff members is unknown, but sources say recorded meetings and exit interviews paint a clear picture of the problem.
Island Echo has been told this week that another staff member – described as being ‘vital’ to the office’s operations – has left the service. At an inquest opening yesterday (Monday), another new face was present.
The overall situation has sparked widespread concern, with MPs Joe Robertson and Richard Quigley both calling for urgent reform.
Joe Robertson MP, who met with Senior Coroner Caroline Sumeray and the Isle of Wight Council’s Chief Executive earlier this year, said he saw no evidence of a comprehensive strategy to resolve the crisis. Council Leader Phil Jordan has stated “it just isn’t fit for purpose”.
Despite the opening of a new dedicated courtroom at Seaclose Park, improvements to the service have been slow. Proposals to appoint an Assistant Coroner and restructure staffing have been in discussion for several years, but little progress has been made.
A joint statement issued earlier this year by the Isle of Wight Council and the Coroner admitted that the service was ‘struggling’ and acknowledged that the timeliness of its work falls short of expectations. They said steps are being taken to improve capacity and support local families, but public confidence remains low.
Calls are growing louder for meaningful action to be taken to overhaul the Isle of Wight’s Coroner’s Service.
Island Echo understands that significant changes are expected in the coming 6 months, with around 50 inquest cases ‘ready to be heard’…
My Daughter died on the 28th June 2023 and we are still waiting for the Coroner, so that is 103 weeks others waiting is nearer 3 years !
So sad, can you contact your local MP
or go even further and contact the PM
he does have an email address like all politicians.
This needs to ne brought to the mainland’s
attention, obviously the island services are
failing.
I was going to apply for an assistant position there, but everyone I mentioned it to told me that the coroner was impossible to work for!
Maybe time to employ a new coroner.
Sounds like a severe case of work place bullying to me. Needs an investigation. Scum rises to the top in some places.
Many Government employees are UNACCOUNTABLE
things need to change.
It seems to be the person at the top that is the problem, deal with it, there is an obvious solution and staff might return.
Maybe their boss should take action.
Why has it taken so long to look into the very poor performance?
Like all Government services, poor.
We pay their wages and get a poor service.
People don’t leave a job, they leave a manager. You’ve highlighted the problem, so sack the manager!
Being a civil servant makes them very expensive and hard to remove. Having the the job doesn’t mean they’re any good, look at our idiot chancellor.
I know a lot of civil servants, they lack brains and
get paid sh*t loads of money and have
wonderful pensions.
It’s a funny old game, if I was not retired and had to
start my career over again. I would work in the public
sector, easy money – as Dire Straits would say
“money for nothing”.
Perhaps someone needs a sideways move to a position that doesn’t involve contact with the public especially those who are grieving. The delay is a national disgrace and needs addressing urgently.
So true.
We’ve been waiting since March 2023 as well.
Shocking and needs addressing with immediate effect.
Personally I would email my local MP and PM
Like most Government organisations, poorly run.
Also they don’t get the best quality of staff,
many of them could not work in the private sector,
they would be accountable and have to work for their
pay.
Seems that the coroner is an entitled bully, with an over inflated sense of her own importance, judging by the comments posted by others
she is ultimately responsible for the sub par performance of her office – she should be sacked immediately, for being an incompetent