Contaminated blood scandal inquiry begins today

Thousands died after being given infected blood in the 1970s and 80s

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Ben Eccleston

12:14, 24 SEP 2018
Updated14:01, 24 SEP 2018

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An inquiry in to a contaminated blood scandal that left thousands dead across the UK is set to begin today.

More than 2,400 haemophilia sufferers and other patients lost their lives after being given blood in the 1970s and 80s that was supposed to help treat them.

Instead the blood infected them with deadly viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis C.

An inquiry was announced last year by Prime Minister Theresa May and it will finally get underway today and will be led by Sir Brian Langstaff, chairman of the inquiry.

The inquiry will consider "whether there have been attempts to conceal details of what happened" through the destruction of documents or withholding of information, and if those attempts were deliberate.

The response of the Government, NHS bodies and other officials will be also be analysed to see if "there has been a lack of openness or candour".

Three days of preliminary hearings are scheduled to start in London on Monday. The inquiry is expected to take at least two-and-a-half years.

Coventry dad among those who died

One of those who lost a loved one in the scandal was Coventry man Jason Evans.

His father, Jonathan, died at the age of 31 after being infected with HIV through treatment with contaminated blood.

Jason was just four years old when his dad died.

Mr Evans, who is now taking landmark legal action against the Government and also founded the campaign group Factor 8, said the terms of reference outlined earlier this year "encompass all the main issues that I would have and I think the wider community has".

The 28-year-old said: "Sir Brian Langstaff has done a very good job and I think he has listened to what everyone has been saying in the meetings that have been held leading up to this and I think that's reflected in these terms of reference."

Why was the blood infected?

In the 1970s and 80s, maemophiliacs were offered a blood clotting treatment called ‘Factor 8’, made from the plasma of thousands of blood donations.

In England and Wales, most ‘Factor 8’ was imported from America where people were often paid to give blood, increasing the risk of infection.

If just one donor had an infection it would contaminate the whole batch. It’s thought thousands of other patients have been infected through blood transfusions.

Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors, which is representing 800 victims and families and eight campaign groups, said: "The establishment can put it off no longer.

“Once the hearings start, and those selected as Core Participants start to give evidence, the thousands affected by this terrible scandal will begin the long process of understanding how and why they received infected treatments from the NHS, the details of the extensive cover-up that followed, and what the government proposes to do about it.

"For those affected, their families and the campaign groups this is a day few thought that they would ever see – and it is a testament to those who have campaigned so hard to make it a reality.

"The feeling among our many clients is that they felt that the Government had washed its hands of them, but now those responsible – both in government and at pharmaceutical companies - will be held to account. For so many people whether affected or mourning those who have died owing to contaminated blood treatments, this is critically important.”