Coventry Telegraph

Inquiry into contaminat­ed blood scandal

- By BEN ECCLESTON Crime Reporter ben.eccleston@trinitymir­ror.com

PRIME Minister Theresa May has ordered an inquiry into the contaminat­ed blood scandal that has left more than 2,000 people dead.

The announceme­nt was made by the Government and will come as welcome news to the loved ones of the thousands who died after becoming infected with HIV through treatment with contaminat­ed blood.

Among them is Jason Evans, from Coventry, who earlier this year said he was taking landmark legal action against the Government after his dad Jonathan died aged just 31.

Jonathan Evans received blood infected containing the deadly disease during his treatment for severe haemophili­a.

He was one of thousands who died or were affected by what some have called the worst disaster in the history of the NHS.

More than 2,000 people died after receiving dodgy blood products more than 25 years ago in NHS treatments that were supposed to help them.

They were instead infected with deadly viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis C.

Jason, who was just four years old when his dad died, said he was taking the legal action against the Government alleging negligence and breach of statutory duty.

Speaking to BBC Panorama earlier this year, Jason said: “My first memory of my dad is the last time I ever saw him... it was my birthday, I was four years old and I remember walking into the room and he was on a bed.

“I remember just being stood in that room for a period of time and just kind of looking at him but not really understand­ing what was happening.”

Jason thinks as the AIDS crisis unfolded, patients should have been given more informatio­n about the potential risks of treatment.

“I think the moment there was a suspicion that the AIDS virus may be in these products, patients should have been given the choice of whether they wanted to take that gamble and play Russian roulette with their life,” he said.

“I can almost guarantee you that 99 per cent of them would not have taken that gamble.”

Details of the UK-wide investigat­ion have yet to be finalised, and consultati­ons will take place with those people affected as to how best to proceed.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman told a Westminste­r briefing: “Jeremy Hunt said that 2,400 people had died and it was necessary to establish the causes of this appalling injustice.”

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom