Delays to inquests at Gwent Coroner’s Service have continued to mount following legal changes.

A scrutiny committee at Newport City Council, which manages the service, heard hundreds of cases dragged on longer than a six-month target last year.

The council’s head of law and standards, Mike Wallbank, said a “very challenging” situation meant only 13.6% of cases handled last year proceeded to inquest on time.

Legal changes introduced in 2024 have led to more inquest referrals, involving “complex medical cases”, he explained.

These cases “require more thorough examination” and it takes officers longer to gather the necessary information, said Mr Wallbank, who added the council was looking at additional staffing as one way to cope.

But he said Gwent was “far from the only coroner’s service affected” by the law changes.

Of the 595 cases opened in Gwent during the last financial year, 81 proceeded to inquest within the six-month target period.

Figures from earlier years show the performance was much better before the law was changed around medical referrals, with around 95% of cases proceeding to inquest on time.