The Respectful Interment Project

Further information...

The Parental Enquiry Process

The Trust and University have an established process for handling parent

enquiries and the release of retained organs, foetuses and tissue samples to

families for their private interment.

 Parents who have previously made enquiries can be reassured that the current process relates to organs, foetuses and tissue samples that were independently recorded and reviewed for the Redfern Inquiry and that nothing has been added since this time. 

 Parents who think that their child’s organs or tissues might have been retained should contact the dedicated helpline on freephone 0800 073 2030, where these enquiries will be treated with respect, dignity and sympathy. This helpline will continue to operate after the burial service on 29^th January 2010 and will answer parental enquiries until the end of March 2010.

The Public Information Process

 A process of dissemination of information to the public commenced on 20^th November 2008 and ran through to May 2009. The process aimed to give parents a further opportunity to make enquiries. 

The widely-represented Steering Group, which includes representatives of the University and the Trust, working with bereaved parent representatives, Liverpool City Council and other interested parties, has overseen the process throughout which includes engagement with local communities, primary care trusts, general practitioners and local hospitals as well as a dedicated presence on the Alder Hey website.  The Steering Group has ensured that both organisations have been rigorous in examining all possible options and has provided valuable counsel and guidance throughout this process. 

Neither the Trust nor the University wished to cause further distress to bereaved

parents however it was necessary to conduct a public information process since

the Human Tissue Authority’s Code of Practice cautioned against initiating

contacts with parents/families where none previously existed.

Faith groups have been consulted throughout by the Steering Group in relation to

this process.  

Release for Interment

Where retention has been confirmed, parents chose to either have the foetus,

organs or tissues samples returned to them for private interment or to have this

carried out on their behalf by the University and the Trust. 

 The Human Tissue Authority has issued written, amended guidance to the Trust

in December 2009 in respect of cases of organ retention where the family has

made an enquiry but has not yet asked for the retained remains to be returned. 

This guidance gives the Trust authority to respectfully bury the remains as part of

the ongoing programme of burials which will be completed at the end of January

2010.

 A dedicated helpline number remains in place where parents are guided through

the process. A team of child bereavement counsellors is also been available to

speak to parents who wish to discuss identification or interment.

Detailed records will be kept relating to these interments relating to location and

date in case parents make an enquiry after interment has taken place.

The Human Tissue Authority

The Human Tissue Authority is an independent watchdog that protects public confidence by licensing and inspecting organisations that store and use tissue for purposes such as research, patient treatment, post-mortem examination, teaching, and public exhibitions. The Human Tissue Authority provides advice and guidance about two laws: the Human Tissue Act (2004) and the Quality and Safety Regulations. These laws ensure human tissue is used safely and ethically, with informed consent. For more information: www.hta.gov.uk