§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with whom responsibility lies for giving permission for(a) the removal of organs from deceased individuals and (b) the disposal of such organs. [123259]
§ Angela SmithBefore a hospital post mortem examination, which is carried out at the request of the doctor or family, the next of kin is asked to make a choice: whether to limit the post mortem or organs taken for further examination; whether to donate some or all of the organs and tissue samples for medical education and ethically approved research; whether to716W allow the hospital to respectfully and lawfully dispose of them; or, whether to have them returned for burial or cremation after investigations are complete.
A coroner's post mortem examination, which is required by law, does not require the consent of the next of kin, although the family will be informed about it. When the post mortem examination has been ordered by a coroner, the next of kin will be told what organs have been retained. Once the post mortem report has been completed the next of kin will be contacted again by the coroner and asked how they wish these to be disposed of.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many recommendations of the Human Organs Inquiry have been implemented by hospitals in Northern Ireland. [123261]
§ Angela SmithWork is ongoing to implement all 20 of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Human Organs Inquiry. The primary responsibility for implementing many of the recommendations does not rest with hospitals but with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Trusts have been co-operating fully in implementing those aspects of the recommendations that fall directly to them.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the procedure is for the return of organs to the families of the deceased. [123264]
§ Angela SmithRelatives wishing to make enquiries about reclaiming organs that have been kept following either hospital or coroners' post mortem examinations before 2001, should contact the DHSSPS Human Organs Enquiry Line at telephone number 0808 800 8810. Coroners' cases are dealt with on an individual basis and the decision whether or not organs will be released is a matter for the coroner. The trained enquiry line staff can provide information, discuss relatives' concerns and advise about the support that is available. In line with the recommendations contained in the Human Organs Inquiry Report, this telephone enquiry line and the opportunity to reclaim organs and tissue samples currently in storage will no longer be available after November 2004.
Further information about the enquiry line is available on the DHSSPS web site, which can be found at http://www. dhsspsni.gov.uk/hss/HOI/index.html. A DHSSPS public information leaflet entitled "Post Mortem Examinations and the Human Organs Inquiry" is being distributed to every home in Northern Ireland over the summer. This leaflet can also be viewed on the above web page and explains how relatives can seek the return of organs and tissue samples.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the publication of the Isaacs Report and its implications for Northern Ireland. [121605]
§ Angela SmithThe Isaacs Report was commissioned from HM Inspector of Anatomy by the Secretary of State for Health and applies to England only. The implications for Northern Ireland of the recommendations of the Isaacs Report; will be considered by the steering group currently working on implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Human Organs Inquiry.
717WIn Northern Ireland, the Chief Medical Officer has issued an Interim Statement on 9 May 2003 on the use of human organs and tissue pending the introduction of new legislation. Since November 2002 a telephone inquiry line operated by the Parents Advice Centre on behalf of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has provided a central point of information for public inquiries about post mortem examinations and has helped with requests for the retention of organs and tissue kept after post mortem examinations. It has also dealt with a small number of enquiries resulting from the Isaacs Report.
The Chief Medical Officer has sought assurances from Trust Chief Executives and University Vice Chancellors that no additional or undeclared material has been retained following coroners' post mortems.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will initiate an investigation by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Anatomy into missing organs in Northern Ireland. [121609]
§ Angela SmithIn May 2001 the Chief Medical Officer reported on the result of her investigation into retained organs in Northern Ireland hospitals. This revealed the continued retention of organs from 1,167 cases. Queen's University conducted a further audit in 2002, which revealed additional material held by the University, which was then declared. There is no evidence to suggest that there is a need for further investigation.
Organs kept from coroners' post mortem examinations can only be disposed of once the investigations are complete or when the material is no longer required for evidential purposes.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what circumstances the organs of deceased individuals on the UK organ donor register are prevented from being given to other patients. [120982]
§ Angela SmithOrgan donation may not be carried out if there are medical contra-indications, if the deceased does not die on a life support machine, or if the deceased is not on the organ donor register and relatives are unsure of the individual's wishes.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the locations in Northern Ireland, apart from Queen's University, Belfast, where banks of retained brains and hearts are stored. [128991]
§ Angela SmithThere are no heart banks in Northern Ireland.
All retained organs were declared in the Chief Medical Officer's report on Organ Retention, May 2001.
In relation to brain banks, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 25 June 2003. (121606).
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the medical practice of removing and retaining additional organs from individuals who have agreed to donate particular organs on their death. [128992]
§ Angela SmithDuring the organ donation procedure no additional organs or tissues have been removed other than those to which the families have stated their718W lack of objection on the UK Transplant form entitled "Statement of Lack of Objection to Organ/Tissue Donation".
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide help and support to relatives of deceased people whose organs have been retained improperly. [128994]
§ Angela SmithThe Department funds the Relatives Reference Group, chaired by Mrs. Pip Jaffa, OBE. The Relatives Reference Group provides help and support to relatives and also acts as a contact point between relatives and the DHSSPS, Queen's University, the Northern Ireland Office and the NI court service.
The DHSSPS Human Organs Inquiry Line, set up by the Department on 20 November 2002, provides a central point of contact for inquiries about post mortem examinations and organs and tissue that may have been kept as a result. It can provide information to relatives, discuss their concerns in confidence and advise them of the support that is available.
The Parents Advice Centre, of which Mrs. Jaffa is the chief executive, is currently running a support group for people affected by organ retention issues. The Parents Advice Centre can also provide a counselling service for relatives through its project workers. Counselling is also available through the Health and Personal Social Services.
The DHSSPS is currently engaged in a multimedia public information campaign as recommended by the Human Organs Inquiry report. A public information leaflet entitled "Post Mortem Examinations and The Human Organs Inquiry," which includes information on organ retention and organ reclamation, is being delivered to every home in Northern Ireland. The leaflet contains details of organisations that can provide help and support to relatives.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to identify the deceased and their relatives in the cases of unidentified brains in storage at Queen's University, Belfast. [128995]
§ Angela SmithNo brains that are being held in storage by Queen's University can be identified as belonging to an individual or family. The brains that are being held are for purposes of medical education and are either those obtained from bodies donated under the Anatomy Order or those that have been anonymised and cannot now be traced back to any individual or family.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the export of brains from Northern Ireland during the 1990s followed Government guidelines on the risks attributed to CJD. [128996]
§ Angela SmithDuring the 1990's the guidelines from the National CJD Unit in Edinburgh were followed when brain tissue was being exported. These national guidelines continue to be followed when brain tissue is being exported.
719W
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where Queen's University will source the brains they need each year for medical and scientific research. [128997]
§ Angela SmithSuch material is obtained from individuals who donate bodies or organs for medical research under the Anatomy Order, or from post mortems where consent has been properly obtained. In addition, consented material may be acquired from officially sanctioned brain banks in the UK or elsewhere.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) medical and (b) scientific reasons there are for removing and retaining spinal cords from deceased individuals. [129022]
§ Angela SmithSpinal cords are retained for diagnostic purposes in relevant cases when it is neurologically or neurosurgically suspected that spinal cord disease may be present. It is also retained in cases of spinal cord injury to determine the type and extent of injury.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many transfers(a) out of and (b) into Northern Ireland of retained brains and brain tissue have taken place in the last 12 months; and whether transfers have taken place outside the United Kingdom. [121610]
§ Angela SmithInformation in the form requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether payment is made for the transfer of organs, tissue and other materials between hospitals. [121607]
§ Angela SmithNo payment is made for the transfer of organs, tissue and other materials between hospitals.