Bereaved families across Teesside and Hartlepool will see the pain of going through an inquest eased after ministers today confirmed the merger of the 2 coroner areas.
- government acts to improve services for grieving families
- coroner services and information will be easier to access for all
- changes will make sure those grieving are at heart of the system
Senior Coroner Claire Bailey has already overseen significant improvements in Teesside, drastically reducing waiting times for families finding out the cause of death of a loved one. The average time taken to complete an inquest at Teesside has been cut from circa 50 weeks in 2013 to circa 11 weeks in 2017. The national average time to complete an inquest is 21 weeks.
The merger of Teesside and Hartlepool coroner services will build on this work, ensuring local families benefit from a more efficient inquest process and greater accessibility to services right across the region. Claire Bailey, who has also been the acting Senior Coroner for Hartlepool, will be permanently appointed the position for the combined area. No courts or inquest venues will close as a result of the merger.
Justice Minister Edward Argar said:
We are reforming the coroner system to ensure those who are grieving do not face the additional stress of poor service and lengthy inquest delays.
As a result of this merger, bereaved families across Teesside and Hartlepool will now benefit from a higher standard of service during their time of need.
I look forward to seeing Claire drive through these improvements, while ensuring the needs of grieving people are at the heart of the system.
The government is committed to raising the standards of coroner services across England and Wales. The Ministry of Justice has carried out a number of reforms to improve coroner services, including the creation of a new national code of practice, and the appointment of the first ever Chief Coroner of England and Wales to oversee the system.
Teesside has already taken steps to improve performance, including by introducing a new website to improve access to services. However, this amalgamation will ensure best practice is shared across the region.
