§ Sir Brian MawhinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the reasons why NHS hospital trusts have been prevented from telling members of the public how many adult and children's organs they have retained in their hospitals; [149824]
(2) when he will tell NHS hospitals trusts the form in which he will require them to set out for public information the numbers of adult and children's organs which are being retained in their hospitals; [149820]
(3) by what means NHS hospital trusts are required to obtain his permission to tell members of the public how many adult and children's organs are being retained in their hospitals; [149822]
(4) for what reason NHS hospital trusts have to obtain his permission before they can tell me members of the public how many adult and children's organsare being retained in their hospitals; [149821]
(5) if he will appoint counsellors to support members of the public who may be distraught after not being given information, on his guidance, by NHS hospital trusts on how many adult and children's organs are being held by their hospitals; [149818]
(6) for what reason NHS hospital trusts have been told that they can inform the public about how many adult and children's organs are retained in their hospitals only in a form that he approves. [149823]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 9 February 2001]Following the publication of the Royal Liverpool Children's inquiry report last week, a special Commission, under the chairmanship of Professor Margot Brazier, has been established to oversee the cataloguing and return of organs and tissue by National Health Service trusts in England.
The Commission has issued comprehensive guidance to trusts on the sensitive and sympathetic handling of inquiries from relatives. This includes establishing dedicated telephone helplines and teams, maintaining contact, and providing bereavement support and counselling where necessary.
The Commission has asked trusts not to provide specific information or begin the process of returning organs and tissue until comprehensive and accurate catalogues of organs and tissue have been completed, and approved by the Commission. This is aimed to avoid repeating the problems of misleading information and multiple burials criticised in the inquiry report.