WARRINGTON Hospital blamed an “administrative error” after it was revealed a miscarried baby's body was stored in its mortuary for almost two years without the mother’s permission.

It came to light when Leanne McCabe, of Runcorn, Cheshire, contacted the hospital to arrange a funeral for the son she had miscarried.

It was at this point that the hospital told her that, not only had he already been cremated, but that they still had the body of another baby she miscarried two years earlier.

Leanne, 25, is reported as saying: “Losing a child is such a harrowing thing and finding this out has made it even more of a nightmare.”

A spokesman for Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has apologised for the distress caused and said it had taken steps to ensure it could not happen again.

He said: “We are truly sorry for the distress caused to Leanne and her family and have worked very closely with them to provide the appropriate support they needed.

“We have fully investigated this case and it was caused by an administrative error.

“As a result of the investigation we are also aware of one other case from 2006 and one from 2007 where there was a delay in carrying out a family’s requested instructions. We have, however, followed those families’ instructions as per their requests.

“We have fully reviewed our systems and strengthened the processes in this area.”

He added: “Dignity and respect is of paramount importance to us in any case involving the loss of a baby and we pride ourselves on the very high standards we have in providing the support that mothers and families need at such a difficult time.

“Our staff are deeply upset that any error has occurred, but we can reassure families that all other cremations and burials organised by the hospitals have taken place as per their wishes.

“Sometimes there can be a delay in arranging a burial or cremation as we give the family time to consider what they wish to do, or we wait for them to contact us when the time is right for them to do so but, again, we can assure people that all their wishes have been followed in every other case.”

laurasharpe