‘Infected Blood Scandal’ Cover-up rocks Healthcare System in the UK
- Vineet Malik
- May 25, 2024
- 3 min read
By Vineet Malik | May 25, 2024 | London, England
Unscreened blood infected with Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) mainly sourced from America during 1970s and early 1990s killed more than 3000 people
‘Infected Blood Inquiry’ Chair Sir Brian Langstaff last Monday released his long pending report at London Central Hall in Westminter, London that witnessed livid emotions across the audience.
The inquiry was initiated only in 2017 after lot of pressure from the victims and their loved ones.
The report runs into more than 2500 pages with seven volumes that uncovers the most horrifying and spine-chilling human disaster, ever since the NHS came into being.
More than 30000 patients treated by the National Health Service (NHS) were given blood and blood products infected with Hepatitis C and HIV for 25 years. Errant pharmaceuticals companies supplied Factor VIII (Factor 8) inflected blood products that led to thousands of deaths.
The NHS acquired 50 percent blood given to the patients from overseas, mostly from America. Donors were paid in exchange of blood and most shockingly, the blood donors profile included drug addicts and prisoners suffering from Hepatitis C or HIV.
The blood was administered to the patients by the NHS without getting screened in the beginning.
More than 30000 pateints were infected with Hepatitis C and 1300 with HIV including 380 children.
Sir Langstaff while releasing the ‘Infected Blood Inquiry’ report said “This disaster was not an accident. People put their faith in Doctors and the Governments to keep them safe and their trust was betrayed. More than 3000 people are already dead.”
The report highlights the systemic, collective and individual failures to deal ethically, appropriately and quickly with the risk of infections being transmitted and with the consequences for thousands of families.
The infections happened because those in authority – Doctors, the Blood Services and Successive governments did not put patient safety first.
There were around 4000 to 6000 people with bleeding disorders in the UK at any one time. Around 1250 were infected with HIV. Almost all infected with HIV were also infected with Hepatitis C and some with Hepatitis B and D as well. Three quarters of these 1250 adults and children have died. Around 5000 people with bleeding disorders developed Heaptitis C.
Most of the people infected with Hepatitis C or HIV through infected blood were already suffering from Hemophilia, Surgery complications, Lukemia, Child birth complications, Sickle cell disease and more.
The report underscores that the NHS and successive governments compounded the agony by refusing to accept that any wrong had been done. More than that, the government repeatedly maintained that people received the best available treatment.
Patients were not given the information to make fully informed decision about their own treatment.
Almost three decades of most shoddiest infected blood tragedy witnessed deaths after deaths while, successive governments overlooked every single warning.
The Labour and Conservative governments have been in power since 1970s. The report has named key people responsible for the scandal. Thatcher and Conservative governments in power during 1980s and 1990s have been condemned however, every government since 1970 is responsible for the murders, suffering, systemic failure and cover-up.
The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in context to the scandal was recently seen saying ‘Sorry’ in the Parliament.
The ‘Infected Blood Inquiry’ report demands
Compensation Scheme
Permanent Memorial for Victims
Duty of Candour
Ending of Defensive Culture in the Civil Service and the Government
Giving Patients a Voice
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