Contaminated Blood

It has been reported that an inquiry will be held into the “contaminated blood scandal”, where NHS patients had been administered blood products which had been infected with hepatitis C and HIV. The report notes that this resulted in at least 2,400 deaths.

The report provides the following quote:

“The Government has for decades denied negligence and refused to provide compensation to those affected, this inquiry will finally be able to properly consider evidence of wrongdoing.“

The physical harm caused by such failings is devastating on the individual and their families. However, lack of transparency in such a situation adds insult to injury and further destroys lives.

In addition the report notes:

“Sir Peter Bottomley, co-chairman of the cross-party parliamentary group on haemophilia and contaminated blood, said the success of the inquiry would depend on it being able to get hold of sensitive information.

“It must have powers to get documents from pharmaceutical companies and government,” he said.

Given that those who have been injured and their families have waited so long for answers, we hope that co-operation by the relevant organisations to provide the disclosure of essential documents will now take place willingly and smoothly.