Serious Incident at Alder Hey and Implications for NHS Wales

I make this statement in response to an incident reported in North Wales  which I understand relates to a Coroner’s post mortem examination undertaken at Alder Hey on a child from North Wales.  

The Retained Organs Commission has asked the Alder Hey Trust to provide the Commission with a full report on this disturbing case as soon as its own investigations have been completed.

The Commission will be considering the Report from the Trust at its next scheduled meeting on 30.5.02 and a further statement will be made at that time.

The incident referred to above has to be understood against the wider context of concerns arising at Alder Hey. In January 2001 I wrote to Health Authority & Trust Chief Executives in Wales, alerting them to the imminent issue of Guidance from the Chief Medical Officer in the wake of the announcement of the investigation of practices at Alder Hey.

From the outset my aim was to ensure that there would be no serious incidents in Wales arising from our management of enquiries from the public on what (if any) organs and tissues had been retained following post mortems.

In order for this to be achieved, it was imperative that robust response and recording systems were immediately put in place to deal with the anticipated flood of calls from the public. Also, that these were matched by reliable processes for checking the accuracy of information available prior to responding to these enquiries.

As a result, by May 2001 all Trusts had undergone a validation process of their information systems and by July 2001, following a system of 100% searches of specified areas, I was sufficiently assured to be able to lift the moratorium on the release of information to enquirers.

Following the issue of guidance on the returns process in August 2001, a total of 191 families in Wales went on to request the return, retention or respectful disposal of retained organs, wax blocks and slides and this process is still ongoing.

We have done our utmost to learn from the sad mistakes of others and do all within our power to minimise further distress to families.

We have made the process as open and transparent as possible. We have seen at first hand the practical benefits of our size and the close and immediate dialogue with the NHS across Wales in which the Assembly could consequently engage.

Through the network links established across NHS Wales we have identified a number of areas of common concern which will inform our new agenda. Many different organisations and agencies are involved in the processes – particularly those relating to Post Mortem Examinations undertaken on the instruction of the Coroner.

We are now working closely with the Retained Organs Commission, the Department of Health and the Home Office in a partnership to ensure that the people of Wales benefit from their good work - but also to inform the process on the practical consequences of some of the proposed changes.  

Our aim is to ensure that we continue to respond to the specific needs of the people of Wales whilst working in partnership with colleagues from the other countries of the United Kingdom to reflect the best practices from across the country.

We still have much work to do but I am satisfied that our approach will deliver the best options to meet our needs in Wales.