FOI/2021/2849
You asked
Please supply the statistics surrounding autopsies since the COVID-19 pandemic.
We said
Thank you for your enquiry.
Statistics on the number of post-mortems which took place in 2016 to 2020 are available in table 4, section 6.3 of our User guide to mortality statistics. We do not hold analysis specifically on post-mortems involving COVID-19.
During the emergency pandemic period, guidance from the Chief Coroner (PDF, 314KB) states only inquests that are of urgent and essential business should be held. The Chief Coroner's guidance also states that it may not be feasible to conduct post-mortem examination where COVID-19 is the suspected cause or was involved in the death, or cannot be ruled out because of a risk of infection, but also because of exceptional pressures on the pathology services and NHS overall.
Further information on the Chief Coroner's guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic is available our publication Quality of mortality data during the coronavirus pandemic, England and Wales.
The Office of the Chief Coroner may be better placed to answer your enquiry and can be contacted at chiefcoronersoffice@judiciary.uk.