A YORK mother who has waited in anguish to hear what happened to her premature daughter's body parts, removed by York District Hospital eight years ago, has finally been told that they have been destroyed.

Fiona Chilton, 27, of Acomb, only found out last year that her baby's brain was removed and then sent to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for tests.

Now she has received a phone call and letter from the Leeds and York Trusts to say it has been disposed of and just blocks and slides are left.

She said: "In one way it's a relief that I finally know what happened to my baby.

"But it still leaves me very, very angry. What right did they have to remove Emma's brain and, more importantly, chuck it away like a piece of meat?

"It is disgusting that they have abeen able to do this."

She found out last month that York Health Services NHS Trust had blocks and slides belonging to Emma.

She said: "I can now have all of my baby back and bury her all together.

"I know it's only blocks and slides - but it's all that I've got of her. But I should never have been put in this position. It's disgusting what happened to my baby.

"I thought I was burying Emma whole - now I know it's all been a sham and I've had to grieve for my baby all over again."

Mrs Chilton is seeking legal action through Bristol-based solicitors who are representing 1,200 families nationwide caught up in the organ retention scandal within the NHS following Alder Hey.

A letter from Simon Pleydell, chief executive of the York trust, said: "They (Leeds) confirm that following the post mortem carried out at York, Emma's brain was referred to Leeds General Infirmary. The brain was subsequently disposed of according to procedures at the time.

"However, their records show that tissue samples were taken and these are still retained at Leeds as blocks and slides.

"I am sorry for the distress this is causing you."

Updated: 11:14 Thursday, February 21, 2002