Chief Coroner post reinstated
Posted by John Sheath on 6th January 2012
Having announced in September 2011 that financial constraints would mean scrapping the appointment of a new Chief Coroner, the Justice Minister has now decided to review his decision having listened to concerns from protest groups including the Royal British Legion (whose desire is to promote the proper management of inquiries into military deaths).
However, it will not be a full reinstatement of the proposed reform as the only mechanism for challenging Coroners’ decisions (currently judicial review or Section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988) will remain in place and the proposed appeal reforms will not be implemented.
The new Chief Coroner will focus on “working to deliver” the reform of Coroners’ services and to “drive up” inquest standards.
It remains to be seen how these objectives will be achieved as the detail of the decision has yet to be disclosed.
The urgent need is to ensure there is consistency in the coronial process and to build up confidence in the current system for bereaved relatives and all those involved including NHS Trust managers, clinicians and staff whose variable experience in the Coroners Court has left them with the perception that the process can be confusing, overly complex and distressing.
