Organ scandal doctor faces sack

Helplines have been busy

The pathologist who hoarded body parts of children at Alder Hey is set to be sacked by the Dutch hospital where he works.

A spokesman for the hospital where Professor Dick van Velzen works said they hope his contract will be terminated "very soon."

Professor Dick van Velzen's actions were 'illegal and unethical and insensitive'

The Dutch-born professor, who was blamed for removing thousands of babies' organs without relatives' consent, has been on extended leave from the Medisch Centruk Haaglanden, in the Hague.

A hospital spokesman said: "The board of directors hopes to have terminated the contract between ourselves and Professor van Velzen very soon."

He could also face legal charges - a file has been passed to Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service

The day after the damning report into events at Alder Hey was published, the hospital's new boss said that there will be "no quick fix" to restore public confidence in the hospital.

Angela Jones, who took over as chairman of Alder Hey on Tuesday, said action could still be taken against certain staff at the hospital.

Ms Jones said a working party had been set up to respond to the Redfern report into events at the hospital.

She added:" I found the report very harrowing, very distressing. I cannot imagine the distress that it caused the parents.

"What happened was appalling. It was horrendous. But Alder Hey remains the jewel in the crown for many parents and youngsters.

"I think the future now is about building bridges outside the hospital and building morale inside its wards and among its staff."

The acting chairman and two non-executive directors of the trust have already resigned following the damning criticism. Four staff members, including former chief executive Hilary Rowland have also been suspended.

Earlier this week a report revealed that more than 100,000 organs have been stored in UK hospitals - many without the consent of relatives and most of which have never been used for medical research.

Hundreds of worried relatives have been calling hospital and national helplines in the wake of the Alder Hey organ scandal.

The Child Death Helpline, run from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, was described as "busy" on Wednesday morning.

The Child Death Helpline is a free and confidential service to anyone affected by the death of a child. It can be reached on 0800 282986. NHS Direct can be reached on 0845 4647

We have had a few people who have been distressed

Linda Baker, John Radcliffe Hospital helpline manager

Concerned parents calling the government's NHS Direct information line have been transferred here in their hundreds.

A hospital spokesman said that approximately 50 relatives had separately called the hospital.

Many more have called a helpline at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, which also revealed a huge collection of organs.

The helpline manager Linda Baker said: "We have had a few people who have been distressed, but we have been able to get all the facts down and assure them we will get the answers as soon as possible."

The hospital anticipates that it will take between two and three weeks to provide the information.

Tony Blair: Appalled at organ scandal

In the House of Commons on Wednesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair described the details of the scandal as "appalling".

He said: "I would like to condemn without reservation the practices at Alder Hey, which have simply added to the grief and pain of parents and relatives."

The pain caused to the parents by this dreadful sequence of events is unforgivable

Alan Milburn

A census of organ retention, published by Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson, revealed that the practice of stockpiling organs is widespread.

Almost 105,000 organs have been retained across the country in 210 NHS trusts and medical schools.

A commission has been set up to help return children's organs stored at Alder Hey to families of the dead patients.

Its head, Professor Margot Brazier, described her team's objective as "to make sure that we return those organs if that is what the families wish".

"If it is not possible to identify the families, or they don't wish to re-open the bereavement process, we should arrange for some dignified disposal of those organs," she said.

Ed Bradley, chairman of the families' support group Pity II, whose daughter Niamh's heart, lungs and brain were kept at Alder Hey, said: "The last 17 months has been harrowing and have had a devastating effect on all the families involved."