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'I gave birth, and got Hepatitis C' 'I gave birth, and got Hepatitis C'
(about 1 hour later)
When Jackie Britton was given a blood transfusion after childbirth, she thought it was saving her life. But the infected blood could have killed her. There are thought to be thousands like her. They often overlooked in the wider NHS contaminated blood scandal. When Jackie Britton was given a blood transfusion after childbirth, she thought it was saving her life. But the infected blood could have killed her. There are thought to be thousands like her. They often feel overlooked in the wider NHS contaminated blood scandal.
"There are still people dying, not knowing they are infected," Jackie Britton, from Portsmouth, tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme."There are still people dying, not knowing they are infected," Jackie Britton, from Portsmouth, tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme.
She gave birth in 1983.She gave birth in 1983.
Her baby daughter was fine but when Jackie started haemorrhaging she needed a blood transfusion.Her baby daughter was fine but when Jackie started haemorrhaging she needed a blood transfusion.
It would be another 29 years before she realised that that blood had been contaminated with hepatitis C, for which there was no blood screening at the time.It would be another 29 years before she realised that that blood had been contaminated with hepatitis C, for which there was no blood screening at the time.
The virus went undetected for years, slowly damaging Jackie's liver.The virus went undetected for years, slowly damaging Jackie's liver.
As she puts it: "The four units of blood that had saved my life was killing me."As she puts it: "The four units of blood that had saved my life was killing me."
Jackie started noticing something might be wrong only in her 50s, when she was experiencing "absolute fatigue".Jackie started noticing something might be wrong only in her 50s, when she was experiencing "absolute fatigue".
"I would feel physically sick. I would start retching just stood up trying to cook a meal, because of the effort and the energy it was taking out of me."I would feel physically sick. I would start retching just stood up trying to cook a meal, because of the effort and the energy it was taking out of me.
"Hep C is just trauma after trauma.""Hep C is just trauma after trauma."
A new generation of drugs means Jackie has now cleared the virus itself from her body - but the damage has already been done.A new generation of drugs means Jackie has now cleared the virus itself from her body - but the damage has already been done.
She has cirrhosis of the liver and needs checks every six month to make sure it has not led to cancer or liver disease.She has cirrhosis of the liver and needs checks every six month to make sure it has not led to cancer or liver disease.
'Treatment disaster''Treatment disaster'
The contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 1980s is often called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.The contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 1980s is often called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.
Then there is a second, sometimes less spoken of group of people who like Jackie received a blood transfusion after childbirth or an operation.
Almost 5,000 people with the blood disorder haemophilia were given a treatment contaminated with hepatitis and in many cases HIV.Almost 5,000 people with the blood disorder haemophilia were given a treatment contaminated with hepatitis and in many cases HIV.
And the second, less spoken of, group was of those, such as Jackie, who received a blood transfusion after childbirth or an operation. Then there is a second group of people who like Jackie received a blood transfusion after childbirth or an operation.
There are no solid figures available on exactly how many transfusion patients were infected before 1992.There are no solid figures available on exactly how many transfusion patients were infected before 1992.
But estimates range from about 5,000 - the same number of people with haemophilia affected - to up to 28,000, the figure suggested by a Department of Health analysis of the scandal.But estimates range from about 5,000 - the same number of people with haemophilia affected - to up to 28,000, the figure suggested by a Department of Health analysis of the scandal.
It is thought there will be some people living today with hepatitis C, contracted by blood transfusion, who have not yet been diagnosed. It is thought there will still be some people living today with hepatitis C, contracted by blood transfusion, who have not yet been diagnosed.
For Bob Leary, now 72, it all started in 1986 with a burst intestine.For Bob Leary, now 72, it all started in 1986 with a burst intestine.
Admitted to hospital and given a transfusion, he didn't think much more of it until he had a blood test four years later.Admitted to hospital and given a transfusion, he didn't think much more of it until he had a blood test four years later.
He was told he had hepatitis C. He was told he had hepatitis C and could expect to live for another 10 to 15 years.
"As you can imagine, it was a very severe shock," he says."As you can imagine, it was a very severe shock," he says.
By 2012, Bob's liver had started to fail. He became jaundiced and lost weight dramatically.By 2012, Bob's liver had started to fail. He became jaundiced and lost weight dramatically.
The following year, having been told he had just weeks left to live, a liver transplant saved his life.The following year, having been told he had just weeks left to live, a liver transplant saved his life.
He will be on medication until he dies.He will be on medication until he dies.
"I don't want to get into the blame culture, I could bitter all my life," he says, "but we need to make sure nothing [like this] happens again." "I don't want to get into the blame culture, I could be bitter all my life," he says, "but we need to make sure nothing like this happens again."
His hope is that a public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal, set to begin on Monday, will provide some answers.His hope is that a public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal, set to begin on Monday, will provide some answers.
It comes after years of campaigning from victims and their families.It comes after years of campaigning from victims and their families.
Key issues include:Key issues include:
'She loved living''She loved living'
For Jackie, it is about far more than her own health.For Jackie, it is about far more than her own health.
Last year, her friend and fellow campaigner Sally Vickers died from cancer caused by the hepatitis C she contracted in 1982 following an operation.Last year, her friend and fellow campaigner Sally Vickers died from cancer caused by the hepatitis C she contracted in 1982 following an operation.
"She loved living. I mean she fought and fought," says Sally's husband, Alan."She loved living. I mean she fought and fought," says Sally's husband, Alan.
He remembers the moment she was given less than a month to live.He remembers the moment she was given less than a month to live.
"The specialist came down and said, 'I'm sorry, it's not only severe cancer in your liver but it has spread to your lungs."The specialist came down and said, 'I'm sorry, it's not only severe cancer in your liver but it has spread to your lungs.
"We simply wanted to come home so that she could be with me.""We simply wanted to come home so that she could be with me."
The anger Alan and Sally felt, however, was not directed at doctors, or the NHS, but at the people responsible for the whole blood donation system at the time in the Department of Health.The anger Alan and Sally felt, however, was not directed at doctors, or the NHS, but at the people responsible for the whole blood donation system at the time in the Department of Health.
"I want somebody held accountable for it," Alan says."I want somebody held accountable for it," Alan says.
"Somebody has got to be accountable for this.""Somebody has got to be accountable for this."
The Cabinet Office said in a statement: "The Infected Blood Inquiry is a priority for the government.The Cabinet Office said in a statement: "The Infected Blood Inquiry is a priority for the government.
"It is extremely important that all those that have suffered so terribly can get the answers they have spent decades waiting for and lessons can be learnt so that a tragedy of this scale can never happen again."It is extremely important that all those that have suffered so terribly can get the answers they have spent decades waiting for and lessons can be learnt so that a tragedy of this scale can never happen again.
"Government is committed to providing the inquiry with all the support it needs.""Government is committed to providing the inquiry with all the support it needs."
Watch the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 BST on BBC Two and the BBC News channel in the UK and on iPlayer afterwards.Watch the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 BST on BBC Two and the BBC News channel in the UK and on iPlayer afterwards.