Specialist
clinical negligence,
personal injury and
human rights solicitors in the
inquest group at law firm Leigh Day & Co have welcomed the apparent U-turn by the Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke, who has confirmed that he has abandoned plans to abolish the post of Chief Coroner. The post of chief coroner was created in 2009 but has never been filled. The Royal British Legion had lobbied hard for the post to stay arguing that a Chief Coroner is needed to ensure coroners have specialist training and deal with military deaths more quickly. Other groups had argued that the role would also bring consistency to the whole coronial system which has been under fire recently because of concerns about the rigour of some coroners’ investigations.
Action against Medical Accidents said in July this year:
“There is little doubt that if bereaved people are to be offered any hope of meaningful change to the coronial system a Chief Coroner needs to be appointed as soon as possible.
“It is probable that had a Chief Coroner been in post, national scandals such as Harold Shipman or more recently Stafford Hospital might well have been identified earlier. Lives might well have been saved. What price do you put on a life? What about the cost to the country of the inquiries which then follow?
“The simple truth is, the Government can’t afford not to appoint a Chief Coroner.”
Leigh Day welcomes the announcement by the Justice Secretary that the post of Chief Coroner will be filled.
Alison Millar a partner in the human rights department who was closely involved in the response AvMA submitted to the Ministry of Justice on the Draft Charter for the Coroners Service said:
“We very much welcome this announcement and hope that the new Chief Coroner’s role will ensure a consistent approach in the conduct of inquests so that families have a better idea of the process they can expect after a loved one has died suddenly or in unexpected circumstances.”
Leigh Day and inquests
Solicitors at Leigh Day have attended many inquests on behalf of the families of people who have died suddenly or unexpectedly. Inquests into the circumstances surrounding a person’s death can often help families find out more information about why their relative died. While a coroner cannot apportion blame following a death he or she can raise concerns with the relevant authority to ensure that the facts are not repeated. Specialist inquest solicitors at Leigh Day have attended inquests for families whose relatives have died in
road traffic crashes or
cycle collisions; following a hospital error or incident of
clinical negligence; during an incident of
friendly fire; because of major transport disasters such as the
Paddington train crash; in
fatal workplace accidents or where people have died from industrial diseases such as
asbestosis and mesothelioma, and in
accidents abroad.