Time to come clean

Britain orders public inquiry into NHS tainted blood scandal

BRITAIN is set to hold a public inquiry into contaminated blood supplied to patients in the state-run National Health Service which killed at least 2400 people.

During the 1970s and ’80s, blood products supplied to the NHS were contaminated with viruses such as HIV or hepatitis C and infected thousands of people with haemophilia or other bleeding disorders.

Health Minister Philip Dunne on Tuesday said many documents were publicly available which gave a comprehensive picture of events and decisions made at the time.

“However, I recognise for those affected these steps do not go far enough to provide the answers that they want to get to the truth of what happened,” he told parliament.

“In light of these concerns and a report of new evidence and allegations of potential criminality, we think it is important to understand the extent of what is claimed and the wider issues that arise.”

Families of victims will be consulted to decide what form the inquiry would take.

A report by MPs in 2015 said the Department of Health estimated more than 30,000 people might have been infected with hepatitis C between 1970 and 1991 when Britain imported some blood products from the US but just 6000 had been identified.

A further 1500 were infected with HIV from 1978 to 1985.

The inquiry comes after leaders from all main political parties, except the ruling Conservatives, wrote a joint letter to Prime Minister Theresa May demanding an investigation into the issue. “For decades people with bleeding disorders and their families have sought the truth,” said Liz Carroll, chief executive of The Haemophilia Society.

“Instead, they were told by the Government that no mistakes were made while it repeatedly refused to acknowledge evidence of negligence and a subsequent cover-up.”