WIRRAL has lost its own coroner service in a merger with Liverpool, it has been revealed today.

Families of bereaved people across Liverpool and Wirral "will receive better coroner services in the future" Justice Minister Simon Hughes announced.

The news follows the retirement of the borough's coroner, Christopher Johnson, who left in December of 2013.

Speaking to the Globe shortly before he stood down, he said he was firmly of the view inquests should continue to be held in Wirral.

He said at the time: “I personally feel that given the complexity of the work and the geography and make-up of Wirral, it should have its own coroner.

“I think it’s appropriate and I think the people of Wirral deserve to have a Wirral coroner.

“I don’t think it would be right that those who unfortunately come in touch with the coroner service should be made to travel outside of the peninsula.

“They have never been required do so, and I don’t think it’s appropriate or necessary now."

Mr Johnson concluded: “I think the content of the work justifies Wirral having its own coroner and I would like to think that following full scrutiny, that will be the decision reached.”

The permanent merger of Liverpool and Wirral coroner services "will greatly improve coroner services in the Northwest, and generate efficiencies for the local authorities affected," said a statement from London.

It went on: "The needs of grieving people will be firmly at the heart of the coroners system – with an emphasis on speeding up inquests and providing more consistent services.

"The Government is committed to raising standards of coroner services across England and Wales. Merging Liverpool and Wirral services is a significant step in doing so, and will help to end what has previously been described as a ‘postcode lottery.’"

Justice Minister Simon Hughes said: “We want to make sure grieving families receive the highest level of service when they are most in need, which is why we are determined that inquests are conducted quickly and consistently right across the country.

“The merger of the Liverpool and Wirral coroners areas are part of the reforms we set in motion two years ago to prioritise the needs of bereaved people while cutting costs for local authorities.

“No courts or inquest venues will close as a result of the merger.”

Ministry of Justice supports and encourages the amalgamation of smaller or part-time coroner areas to create more fully-loaded caseloads for full-time coroners, to promote consistency over a wider area and generate efficiencies for the local authorities which fund coroner services.

As a result of the merger the Liverpool and Wirral Senior Coroner will receive additional resources to support the caseload and maintain quality of coronial services.

The Ministry of Justice has carried out considerable reforms in the past two years to improve coroner services across England and Wales and increase consistency of practice between coroner areas.

These include:

• The creation of a new national code of practice – setting out what service and standards bereaved people can expect from coroners.

• The appointment of the first ever Chief Coroner of England and Wales (His Honour Judge Peter Thornton QC) to oversee the coroner system.

• Requiring inquests to be completed within six months of the date on which the coroner is made aware of the death, unless there are good reasons not to.

• Requiring coroners to notify those who are bereaved within a week of setting the date for the inquest.

• Permitting less invasive post-mortem examinations.

• Speeding up the release of bodies after post-mortem examination, and requiring coroners to notify the deceased’s next of kin or personal representative if the body cannot be released within 28 days.