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Some of the images associated with the organ retention issues at Alder Hey Hopsital in Liverpool, UK

 
Link to Alan Milburn's [Secretary of State for Health] Speech to the House of Commons [UK Government] on the 30th of January 2001

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Today's Date

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animated presentation of the words "Never Again!"

Chief Medical Officer says "NEVER AGAIN!"

The following extract is from the summing up of Sir Liam Donaldson (Chief Medical Officer) at the organ retention summit in London [Thursday 11th January 2001]. To read the full script click here PDF file

Sir Liam Donaldson (Chief Medical Officer)"To the relatives I would particularly like to say that you did not have to come here today to help us and I know how difficult it has been for you to come here today. But whatever you may think in the heat of today's debate, you coming here has been absolutely critical and crucial to the success of what now needs to happen. The opening statements you have made were a model of clarity. They were insightful, they were very constructive and, above all, they were dignified. I have spent the day learning a great deal from what you have said, and I would like to say to the relatives I admire you for coming here today. I respect you and I apologise to you for what the NHS did and how the NHS let you down.

But an apology is not enough. What you need to see is action flowing from your experiences, and action that will change the things in a major way. But your presence today has let everyone see how medical practice, when it goes badly wrong, affects real people in real ways. We would not have been able to have the appreciation of that from paper alone, or from reading about it in the newspapers or hearing it on television. So those testimonies, which were harrowing to listen to and even more harrowing for you to give, have been the thing has really changed attitudes today. You have been responsible also for galvanising commitment to do something about this.

The way I look at it, we do have to change the law. We do have to put in measures that bite and work. We must, whatever we put in place, pass one simple test and that test is two words, 'never again'.

(Applause)

So I pledge to you that we will have the solution. My advice to Ministers will embrace the comments you have made today and I hope that we can continue to engage you in the process, because we do not want to walk away now with this information and these perspectives and not have any further dialogue. Thank you for coming today and a safe journey home to all of you."

To read the full script click here PDF file

 

PITY II (Parents who have Interred Their Young Twice) is the parents' support group set up in the wake of the organ retention scandal
at Alder Hey Hospital (Liverpool, UK). It aims to provide self help support and advice to affected families.


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