HEALTH bosses in East Lancashire today issued a pledge over organ retention following the report into the Alder Hey scandal.

The chief executive of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, John Thomas, and Burnley NHS Trust chief executive David Chew both said the Trusts carried out post mortem examinations but didn't keep organs after the cause of death had been established.

Organs are occasionally removed during the examination but are returned to the body before burial or cremation.

Mr Thomas said organs were sometimes kept longer when extra tests had to be carried out and were then disposed of with respect, although this had only happened twice in six years.

Mr Chew, who said the Burnley Trust followed similar procedures, said: "Although in past years this was acceptable practice, it did not involve providing information to relatives about this process nor obtaining consent, which I accept is no longer appropriate.

"I would apologise unreservedly for any hurt and distress that may have been caused."

Mr Chew said he planned to appoint a liaison officer to work with bereaved families and explain the post mortem examination and consent procedures. Mr Thomas said the Blackburn Trust had not been happy with their consent form and had recently revised it according to Royal College of Pathology guidelines, but would now revise it again in accordance with the latest advice.

He said: "We are aware this is a very sensitive area for many bereaved relatives and we are very sorry for any distress which this issue may have caused."

Anyone who is concerned that their relatives' organs may have been removed can call the Trusts' helplines.

Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust's helpline, on 01254 294150, will be manned between 9am and 5pm until Friday.

Burnley NHS Trust's helpline, on 01282 474224 or 0780 8364540, will be manned between 8.30am and 4.30pm this week.

Thousands of children's organs, entire heads and bodies were found on shelves during an investigation into the Liverpool hospital, a report revealed today.

The inquiry report showed Professor Dick van Velzen systematically kept organs to build up a huge collection of samples, while his bosses at Alder Hey Hospital and Liverpool University failed to stop him.

A census of body parts still retained by hospitals and universities, also released today, found more than 100,000 still in storage, many kept without relatives' knowledge. In the North West, Alder Hey had 6,900 organs, foetuses and body parts, Liverpool University had 1,600 and Manchester University had 1,800.

Fewer than 50 body parts and foetuses were kept by Christie Hospital, Preston NHS Trust, Rochdale Healthcare and Bury Health Care, 13 were kept by the Royal Bolton Hospital and none were kept by Burnley or Blackburn hospitals.

The report criticised hospital procedures and consent forms, which didn't make it clear that relatives' signatures allowed doctors to keep entire organs.

He has called for a nationwide code of practice and standard consent form, with parents allowed to specify the extent of post mortem examinations, what organs are used for and how long they are kept.