Monday 20 May saw the publication of the Infected Blood inquiry Report, a vindication for everyone who has been campaigning for justice for people given hepatitis B, hepatitis C and/or HIV through treatment with infected blood and blood products for almost fifty years.
The Hepatitis C Trust warmly welcomed the report and its recommendations. Speaking at the launch, Rachel Halford, HCT CEO, said:
“Today’s report represents six years of concerted effort by Sir Brian Langstaff and the Inquiry team to uncover the truth about the cause of the contaminated blood scandal.
“After decades of relentless campaigning, this community finally has answers in black and white. Systemic, collective and individual failings and cover-ups have led to one of the gravest disasters this country has ever seen.
“Among its shocking findings, the report has brought to light evidence that much more could have been done to prevent hepatitis C and HIV infections from blood and blood products, and to help those infected. But far beyond these failings, it makes clear that people – including many children – were deliberately given deadly viruses, treated as “objects for research”.
“Over decades, instead of acting to protect people, the Government and the health system have sought to delay, defer, and hide the truth from the people they’d harmed.
“They must now take full responsibility. We urge the Government to stop its endless delays and to act. Already 3,000 people did not live to see this day, and time remains of the essence.
“The Government must now quickly and comprehensively respond. This response must accept their responsibility, and give concrete timelines for paying compensation to everyone affected. And it must commit to implementing all of the recommendations of this report transparently collaboratively with the communities whose lives have been so blighted by its actions, and to taking the lessons learned to ensure absolutely nothing like this can ever happen again.
“The report recommends that groups previously excluded from financial support – such as bereaved parents and children, people who contracted hepatitis B and the people who received infected blood transfusions after 1991 – are included in the compensation scheme. We urge the Government to clarify its plans for redress for these groups as soon as possible. After so many years of being shut out from support payments, these individuals have waited long enough to receive the recognition that their lived experiences are part of this horrific scandal.”
Government Apology for Infected Blood
Yesterday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised to the victims of the Infected Blood Scandal, following the release of the Infected Blood Inquiry Report. The apology described failures in policy on blood and blood products; failures of the state and failures of medical professionals to recognise harm; inadequate payment schemes; and failures of the government to face up to their failings; and attempted cover-ups.
Mr Sunak added that the government intends to pay comprehensive compensation to the people affected.
Campaigners have welcomed the announcement on compensation, although concerns remain regarding the huge delays seen since the publication of the Inquiry’s interim response, the independence of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), the lack of transparency in Government action to date and the inadequate involvement of the people affected in all of these processes.
Rachel Halford, CEO of The Hepatitis C Trust, said: “Today is a historic day. By issuing an apology, the Government has acknowledged that it bears the full responsibility for the contaminated blood scandal – the worst treatment disaster in the history of this country.
“It has been a long road to get here. For half a century, people who received infected blood and blood products have had to repeatedly call for truth and justice. Fighting against institutional cover-ups and successive governments that evaded responsibility has taken a significant toll on many already experiencing ill-health, stigma and grief. No one should have to endure this nightmare ever again.
“An apology is more than just words. The Government must take action by paying compensation to all people affected by this scandal, and acknowledging the pain caused with a national memorial to ensure history remembers all who have died. Sir Brian has made it clear that the Inquiry will only close when all the recommendations have been responded to; we welcome his continued watchful eye.
“The cover-ups of the infected blood scandal are not an isolated incident. We have seen this pattern repeated time and time again through the Hillsborough, Bloody Sunday, Grenfell Tower and countless other inquiries.
“It is clear that the Hillsborough charter, as proposed after the Hillsborough Inquiry in 2016 and backed by Sir Brian Langstaff in this new report, is as needed as ever. The law will create a new legal duty of candour on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively cooperate with official investigations and inquiries – bringing to an end the familiar pattern of cover-ups and concealment.”
The full statement from the Prime Minister is online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-the-infected-blood-inquiry-20-may-2024