NORTH YORKSHIRE families caught up in the nationwide organ retention scandal heard today their waiting is at an end.

Forty-six families or their representatives received letters this morning informing them that body parts taken from loved ones at York District Hospital can be returned to them within the next month.

But two mothers have told the Evening Press the news brings them little relief.

The nightmare began when the Alder Hey report found that children who had died at the Liverpool hospital had been stripped of their organs without their parents' knowledge or consent.

During the inquiry it also emerged that more than 100,000 hearts, lungs and other organs were still being held by hospitals around the country.

It has disclosed it has organs from two adults and tissues from the 44 remaining children and adults.

The York Health Services NHS Trust was approached by 122 concerned relatives in the wake of the damning inquiry.

York mother Tracey Drury, of Bramham Grove, Chapelfields, was only 23 when her four-year-old daughter, Shelley, died after a series of epileptic fits in 1989. Shelley had a post-mortem examination at York District Hospital, and Tracey now knows that tissue was retained.

She is also waiting anxiously to hear from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust what happened to her daughter's brain, which was also removed.

She said she wants to have all of her daughter back so that she can bury her properly.

"This should never have even happened. It's bad enough losing a child without this. This has taken too long to sort out."

The news also provided no relief for Julie Barrett, of the Hollies, Osgodby, near Selby, whose son, Sam, died at York District Hospital 12 years ago and had a post-mortem examination. Some tissue from his body was kept and she is now expecting to have it returned.

She said: "I'm so angry all over again. My life has been on hold ever since it all came out with the Alder Hey scandal. It's disgusting what has happened."

Organs and tissues were removed for medical investigations and research and in most cases patients relatives did not know. In Tracey's case she knew her daughter's brain had been removed, but not that other tissue was retained by the York hospital.

Since the scandal first broke York trust has a policy of informing relatives when any part of a body is retained.

Mike Proctor, director of nursing for the York trust, has been dealing with the issue since the beginning.

He will continue to deal with each family now the green light has been given by the Retained Organs Commission regional office to return organs to families.

He will meet with families from September 3, and the trust will follow specific guidelines in dealing with the organs and tissue, including special cremation or burial plans.

Mr Proctor said: "Each family will be dealt with individually, and their wishes will be respected.

"In the next four weeks we will put everything in place for the organs and tissues to be released to the families immediately after we meet with them and a decision is made on the appropriate course of action."

George Wood, deputy chief executive of the trust, added: "We are acutely aware of how sensitive this situation is and we are using the guidance from the Retained Organs Commission to ensure we do everything possible to respond to relatives' needs sympathetically and effectively."

A helpline is available on 01904 454424.

Updated: 11:30 Tuesday, August 07, 2001