NHS haemophilia scandal: 'IN COLD BLOOD'

Editorial Note: WHAT follows below must be of great concern at a time when people are proclaiming 'DEFEND THE NHS'. It was clear to those of us that watched this program that people responsible at the top both in the NHS and within government were aware that possible contaminated blood products were being imported from the USA and that patients were being urged to inject themselves. The people in charge were prepared to take the risk seemingly because not to do so would have detrimental commercial consequences for the NHS. What will be of interest here is would a less centralised body have done the same?

From the Daily Mirror:

ITV documentary In Cold Blood delves into chilling 1980s haemophilia scandal in UK

The stories of lives destroyed by the haemophilia scandal, which killed more people than any other UK disaster, are revealed in a new ITV documentary

It exposes a 1980s cover-up over bleeding disorder patients receiving a treatment made from US donor blood – some of which was infected with the HIV and hepatitis C viruses.

Some victims were compensated, but with a gagging clause attached.

Colin and Denise Turton lost their son, Lee, at the age of 10, six years after he was infected with HIV.

Denise says on camera he suffered years of “hell”.

Over 4,000 people were infected with hepatitis C and 1,300 with HIV.

Documents revealing blunders that saw thousands killed by contaminated blood products were destroyed as the scandal emerged.

Officials at the Department of Health feared their failures to protect haemophiliacs would be made public, so dispatched records for shredding, say campaigners.

In the 1970s the Factor 8 treatment for haemophilia was prescribed on the NHS, but demand saw surplus sourced from America where donors were paid.

This encouraged them to lie about their medical past, and saw diseased products given to Brits.

More than 1,300 people were given HIV, and more than 4,000 people got Hepatitis C.

Around 2,400 died due to the infected blood products and a public inquiry into the scandal is ongoing.

Campaigners say the Government knew blood was dodgy and did nothing, then tried to hide their failure.

Former health minister David Owen this week told the infected blood inquiry victims had been failed by politicians and medics alike.

He said he “deeply regretted” that the UK had not become self-sufficient in blood products and continued to import them from the US.

In Cold Blood was on Sunday at 10.20 on ITV.

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