Blackburn coroner to work full-time 'after increase in deaths'

A full-time coroner is to be appointed as a result of the “substantial increase” in deaths in borough - and demand for council burials has also increased.

For the past year, all East Lancashire’s emergency 999 calls have been directed to Royal Blackburn Hospital with the A&E unit at Burnley closed.

Now a full-time coroner is to be appointed to cover Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, in a move that will cost taxpayers £50,000 a year.

A report said referrals to the coroner, who looks at sudden and unexplained deaths, had jumped by more than 45per cent.

Over the same period, there has also been an increase in demand for “pauper’s funerals” - given where somebody dies with no traceable relatives - which cost the council £700 a time.

Council bosses insist this rise is not related to the 999 changes, but the increase coincides with the switch.

On Thursday night Blackburn with Darwen Council’s ruling executive board will be asked to agree to the appointment of a full-time coroner.

The office, at King George’s Hall, is currently a part-time operation.

The report said the change, which will be paid for by Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire County Council, was needed because hospital deaths are investigated at the place of death no matter where the person is from.

In the year up to October 31, there were 2,065 deaths recorded in Blackburn with Darwen, compared to 1,735 in the calendar year 2006.

It is estimated the number of inquests in 2008 will be 280, compared to 216 in 2006.

Pauper’s funerals, which averaged nine per year over the past four years, have also sharply increased, with 12 in just six months from April to October.

But the council’s environment director Peter Hunt insisted this was to do with a change in legislation and said the council was negotiating with the hospital to decide who paid.

He added: “It’s an extremely good service but we don’t want to see more of our budget used this year.”