Chief Coroner guidance ‘could frustrate investigations’ into frontline workers’ deaths from Covid-19

Across England and Wales bereaved families are seeking answers about why their relatives have died of Covid-19. As this programme has reported previously there has been controversy over the accurate recording of cause of death in many coronavirus cases.

Now there are allegations that guidance issued by the Chief Coroner as the pandemic began is likely to “stymie, limit and frustrate” the investigations into those deaths because it advised that inquests are not the place to discuss, for example, the adequate provision of PPE.