A hefty 61-point Recovery Plan for the Isle of Wight’s under-fire Coroner’s Service has been endorsed by County Hall.
The environment and community protection committee (ECPC) voted for the ‘live’ document, continually developed and delivered amid ongoing criticism, at its Thursday evening meeting (4th December 2025).
Long delays
A committee report prepared prior to the meeting said the waiting time for inquests is reported as being the worst in England and Wales.
However, Laura Gaudion, director of adult social care and housing needs at the Isle of Wight Council, told ECPC that the number of cases open for more than 12 months has seen a 50 per cent reduction, as of 4th December 2025.
Record number of inquests concluded in 2025
She said Isle of Wight Coroner, Caroline Sumeray, has confirmed that for 2025, 197 cases are still outstanding for longer than 12 months.
A total of 236 inquests have been concluded so far this year, which the coroner described as a record number for the Isle of Wight.
Delays in 2024
Only 38 inquests were concluded by the coroner last year, with an average wait time of 76 weeks – more than double the national average, according to the ECPC report.
In October, it emerged 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.
Service Recovery Plan
The Service Recovery Plan lists 61 actions, with those completed including 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.
However, 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.
Delays questioned
The independent councillor for Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey, Clare Mosdell, told the committee,
“I dared to question the length of time seven years ago that an inquest was taking and got a very direct phone call from a certain person within this service and had it made very clear to me that I was never to question it again.
“Seven years on, we’ve got a report in front of us.”
Blake: Deemed unsatisfactory
Councillor Ed Blake, the Conservative vice-chair of ECPC, said,
“If all the steps are taken in this Recovery Plan, I’m sure the service could return to what we would deem as satisfactory.
“Currently, I would be correct in saying that the Island’s residents deem it unsatisfactory – the (ECPC) report highlights that very clearly.”
A further report outlining progress will be presented to ECPC in six months’ time.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
