Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool threw away the organs of a baby that were due to be returned to his parents for burial after a 'difference of opinion' between two staff members, a report has found.

Royal Liverpool Children's trust chief executive Hilary Rowland has gone on leave, following the revelations, together with director of operations Karen England. Trust chair Frank Taylor resigned earlier this month.

Liverpool health authority chair Judith Greenwood has taken over at the trust, with a brief to review management.HA commissioning director Tony Bell is acting chief executive.

Stephen White's heart, brain and lungs were thrown away after two members of staff in the pathology department failed to agree whether 'fragments' of organs could be identified.

The director of operations decided that the 'fragments' could be thrown away. Instead the 'entire contents' of severa l containers were disposed of.

The report by North West regional office says 'there was no immediate concern' when Stephen's organs could not be found during a visit by the team inquiring into a huge collection of organs at Alder Hey.

His parents were finally told of the loss ear l ier th is month , just days be fore they were due to hold a funeral for the remains.

Report on the Loss of Organs of Stephen White. NHS Executive North West.

wwwdoh.gov.uk