Inquests backlog cut across county

COUNCILLORS have welcomed a fall in the number of families waiting to learn how their loved ones died.

- By PHIL CORRIGAN

The backlog of cases at Stoke-onTrent and Staffordshire's joint coroners service has fallen from 672 in February to 606, with the number of cases above the six-month statutory time limit for an inquest dropping from 260 to 240.

Last year, elected members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council, which jointly fund the service, agreed a £519,000 boost for new staff to increase capacity.

A new full-time area coroner started work in June, and officials believe the service is currently on track to cut the backlog 'considerably' by the end of the financial year.

Members of the joint coroners committee, who received an update on the service last week, were also told that the move to Swann House in Stoke is nearly complete, with the first inquests due to be held at the new venue from next week.