HEALTH watchdogs in Blackburn are appealing for local people to give their views on the controversial issue of what to do with human organs retained by hospitals.

Community Health Councils across the country have been asked by the National Health Service Retained Organs Commission to collect local people's views on the subject as part of a national review, prompted partly by the organs scandal at Alder Hey in Liverpool.

Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council is asking local people who have views on the subject to come forward so they can be included.

Chief officer Nigel Robinson said: "We have been asked to give our views on this, but it is important to find out what local people think.

"We need local people to take part in this consultation so we can give back views which represent everyone."

The consultation asks for views on whether it is acceptable to retain organs collected before March 2000 which cannot be identified; to dispose of them respectfully or try to identify as many as possible and return them to relatives.

The consultation also asks whether there should be steps put in place which would prevent organs from being retained against parents' wishes in future and who should pay for further funerals if organs were returned to families.

It also asks whether new measures should be brought in to ensure that organs and tissue are only retained for good cause with consent.

Anyone with views on the subject should contact 01254 56163 or write to Nigel Robinson at the CHC at Richmond Chambers, Richmond Terrace, Blackburn, BB1 7AS.