Swindon-based Withy King Solicitors has launched a dedicated inquest representation service following a growing number of requests from bereaved families looking for professional advice and support.

Withy King’s nationally renowned clinical negligence team is now offering a fixed-fee practical advice and support package to families facing inquests into the death of a loved one. Withy King’s role is to take responsibility for the tasks associated with an inquest, including collecting and submitting medical records, liaising with the coroner’s office, highlighting appropriate witnesses for a full hearing and preparing family witness statements, gathering facts and answering questions relating to the death, including questioning of witnesses at the inquest hearing itself.

Paul Rumley, a partner in Withy King’s clinical negligence team who heads up the firm’s inquest representation service, said: “Whilst it is still common for families to represent themselves during inquest proceedings, increasing numbers are turning to lawyers for assistance, particularly if they feel there may be a separate clinical negligence claim arising from the circumstances of the death. This is usually an extremely difficult time for families and they often feel unable to cope with the inquest preparation or the hearing itself.  We are also encouraged by the apparent assistance Coroners say they get from our involvement in the process.”

The Government’s draft Bill for reform of the Coroner’s process, which was published in May 2007, indicated that 230,000 deaths had been notified to Coroners in the previous year, representing 45 per cent of all deaths in England and Wales.

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