The Chief Coroner’s Office has called out 14 organisations for failing to respond to concerns after 13 Londoners died
London: So, it turns out that 15 organisations have been called out by the Chief Coroner’s Office for not responding to serious concerns raised by local coroners. These include councils, police, and NHS Trusts, and they usually have about 56 days to reply to these Prevention of Future Deaths reports. These reports are super important because they highlight issues that could lead to more deaths if not addressed.
Basically, these reports help shine a light on sensitive cases, like deaths in custody or suicides, that might not get media attention otherwise. For instance, we’ve seen reports about HMP Wandsworth and the Prison Service after two prisoners died in their cells. There are also worries about mental health facilities and NHS bed shortages.
When an organisation gets a PFD, they’re supposed to write back to the coroner, explaining what they’re doing to prevent future tragedies. But here’s the kicker: the Chief Coroner’s guidance doesn’t really say what happens if they don’t respond. It just mentions that the Chief Coroner can use these reports to flag issues and suggest actions.
Dr. Georgia Richards from King’s College London has pointed out that we need more resources to create a central database of coroner reports. She believes a data-driven approach could really help improve the system. Meanwhile, Deborah Coles from INQUEST has stressed that these reports are crucial for public health improvements, but the lack of proper follow-up is a big missed opportunity.
Interestingly, a British Medical Journal article from last September mentioned that the report system isn’t functioning as it should, with little evidence that recommendations are being taken seriously.
In 2024, the judiciary officials released a report naming the organisations that didn’t respond to the coroner. They noted that this report was based on confirmations from coroner’s offices about missing responses. Some repeat offenders included His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and Barts Health NHS Foundation Trust.
If you’ve got any tips or court gossip, feel free to reach out! And don’t forget to sign up for MyLondon’s Court & Crime newsletter to stay updated on the latest crime stories in London.
