FAMILIES of babies whose lungs were retained by Warrington Hospital have been told that the release of the organs will be delayed indefinitely.

Parents were initially told that there would be a four week wait for information regarding the retention of organs. But there will be a complete block on the return or disposal of organs removed at post-mortem so that they can be fully catalogued.

One mum who is still waiting for the release of her baby's organs said: "While I can understand the reasoning it doesn't help us, we're still playing the waiting game and it's turned our lives upside down. There's just a total lack of information for parents."

Professor Margaret Brazier, OBE, chairman of the Retained Organs Commission, said: "I recognise that, for some parents, this will be a further, disappointing delay in what has already been a harrowing process for those involved.

"But equally, the risk of multiple burials and of setting off a drawn-out and highly distressing repeat of the problems already experienced in Liverpool make it important that nothing should be released until the commission is satisfied that a comprehensive and secure cataloguing process has been completed."

Hugh Lamont, head of communications at the NHS Executive, said: "To avoid further distress to families and the risk of mass funerals, a commission has been set up which has taken the decision away from the individual authorities."