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| Contaminated blood scandal: Inquiry 'must uncover truth' | Contaminated blood scandal: Inquiry 'must uncover truth' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Campaigners say it is time to find out the truth about the contaminated blood scandal that left nearly 3,000 people dead, as a public inquiry begins. | Campaigners say it is time to find out the truth about the contaminated blood scandal that left nearly 3,000 people dead, as a public inquiry begins. |
| The inquiry is looking at how thousands of NHS patients were given blood products infected with hepatitis and HIV during the 1970s and 1980s. | The inquiry is looking at how thousands of NHS patients were given blood products infected with hepatitis and HIV during the 1970s and 1980s. |
| Many say the risks were not explained, in what has been called the worst treatment disaster in NHS history. | |
| Witnesses can be forced to testify in the first UK-wide public inquiry. | |
| Liz Carroll, chief executive of The Haemophilia Society, said it must work diligently to "uncover the truth, bring justice and ultimately closure for victims and their families". | Liz Carroll, chief executive of The Haemophilia Society, said it must work diligently to "uncover the truth, bring justice and ultimately closure for victims and their families". |
| "This scandal devastated generations of people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders. | "This scandal devastated generations of people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders. |
| "Our members have waited decades for this to be properly investigated." | "Our members have waited decades for this to be properly investigated." |
| A short history of the contaminated blood scandal | A short history of the contaminated blood scandal |
| About 5,000 people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders were infected with HIV and hepatitis viruses over a period of more than 20 years. | About 5,000 people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders were infected with HIV and hepatitis viruses over a period of more than 20 years. |
| This was because they were injected with blood products used to help their blood clot. | This was because they were injected with blood products used to help their blood clot. |
| It was a new treatment introduced in the early 1970s. Before then patients faced lengthy stays in hospital to have transfusions, even for minor injuries. | It was a new treatment introduced in the early 1970s. Before then patients faced lengthy stays in hospital to have transfusions, even for minor injuries. |
| Britain was struggling to keep up with demand for the treatment - known as clotting agent Factor VIII - and so supplies were imported from the US. | Britain was struggling to keep up with demand for the treatment - known as clotting agent Factor VIII - and so supplies were imported from the US. |
| But much of the human blood plasma used to make the product came from donors such as prison inmates, who sold their blood. | But much of the human blood plasma used to make the product came from donors such as prison inmates, who sold their blood. |
| The blood products were made by pooling plasma from up to 40,000 donors, and concentrating it. | The blood products were made by pooling plasma from up to 40,000 donors, and concentrating it. |
| People who underwent blood transfusions were also exposed to the contaminated blood - as many as 30,000 people may have been infected. | People who underwent blood transfusions were also exposed to the contaminated blood - as many as 30,000 people may have been infected. |
| By the mid 1980s the products started to be heat-treated to kill the viruses. | By the mid 1980s the products started to be heat-treated to kill the viruses. |
| But questions remain about how much was known before this, and why some contaminated products remained in circulation. | But questions remain about how much was known before this, and why some contaminated products remained in circulation. |
| Screening of blood products began in 1991 and by the late 1990s, synthetic treatments for haemophilia became available, removing the infection risk. | Screening of blood products began in 1991 and by the late 1990s, synthetic treatments for haemophilia became available, removing the infection risk. |
| 'We have been betrayed and lied to' | 'We have been betrayed and lied to' |
| Steve Dymond is now in his early 60s. He only had mild symptoms of haemophilia and led an active life. | Steve Dymond is now in his early 60s. He only had mild symptoms of haemophilia and led an active life. |
| During the 1980s his health began to suffer. His muscles were sore, his joints ached and he was always exhausted. | During the 1980s his health began to suffer. His muscles were sore, his joints ached and he was always exhausted. |
| After going to hospital following a minor hand injury in the mid 1980s, he was told he had been treated with Factor VIII that had not been heat-treated. | After going to hospital following a minor hand injury in the mid 1980s, he was told he had been treated with Factor VIII that had not been heat-treated. |
| The concern was that he may have been exposed to HIV. | The concern was that he may have been exposed to HIV. |
| At the time it took 18 months to get a diagnosis - a wait that his wife Su Gorman said "put their lives on hold". | At the time it took 18 months to get a diagnosis - a wait that his wife Su Gorman said "put their lives on hold". |
| He was given the all-clear, but in the 1990s was diagnosed with hepatitis C. | He was given the all-clear, but in the 1990s was diagnosed with hepatitis C. |
| He is now clear of hepatitis C, although his health has continued to suffer. | He is now clear of hepatitis C, although his health has continued to suffer. |
| Two years ago he suffered a near-fatal stomach bleed, has suffered hearing loss and has a damaged liver, leaving him at risk of cancer. | Two years ago he suffered a near-fatal stomach bleed, has suffered hearing loss and has a damaged liver, leaving him at risk of cancer. |
| He said people have been "betrayed and lied to" throughout, with the government, health professionals and drug companies all guilty of trying to avoid responsibility. | He said people have been "betrayed and lied to" throughout, with the government, health professionals and drug companies all guilty of trying to avoid responsibility. |
| "It is difficult to try to imagine - even though there is a public inquiry - how they will be able to get past these walls of obfuscation," said Mr Dymond. | "It is difficult to try to imagine - even though there is a public inquiry - how they will be able to get past these walls of obfuscation," said Mr Dymond. |
| Why have an inquiry now? | Why have an inquiry now? |
| The government has been strongly criticised for dragging its heels. | The government has been strongly criticised for dragging its heels. |
| There have been previous inquiries. One was led by Labour peer Lord Archer of Sandwell, and was privately funded. | There have been previous inquiries. One was led by Labour peer Lord Archer of Sandwell, and was privately funded. |
| It held no official status and was unable to force witnesses to testify or force the disclosure of documents. | It held no official status and was unable to force witnesses to testify or force the disclosure of documents. |
| Meanwhile, a seven-year inquiry launched by the government in Scotland was criticised as a whitewash when it was published in 2015. | Meanwhile, a seven-year inquiry launched by the government in Scotland was criticised as a whitewash when it was published in 2015. |
| Greater Manchester mayor and former health secretary Andy Burnham has repeatedly called for a probe into what happened. | Greater Manchester mayor and former health secretary Andy Burnham has repeatedly called for a probe into what happened. |
| Mr Burnham claimed in the House of Commons last year that a "criminal cover-up on an industrial scale" had taken place. | Mr Burnham claimed in the House of Commons last year that a "criminal cover-up on an industrial scale" had taken place. |
| The government announced there would be an inquiry only after it faced a possible defeat in a vote on an emergency motion. | The government announced there would be an inquiry only after it faced a possible defeat in a vote on an emergency motion. |
| What's next? | What's next? |
| The inquiry could last more than two years. | The inquiry could last more than two years. |
| Payments have been made to some of the people who were infected - the first fund was set up as long ago as 1989. | Payments have been made to some of the people who were infected - the first fund was set up as long ago as 1989. |
| But if the new inquiry finds culpability, it opens the door to victims seeking large compensation payouts through the courts. | But if the new inquiry finds culpability, it opens the door to victims seeking large compensation payouts through the courts. |
| Sir Brian Langstaff, who is leading the inquiry, said Monday marks the start of something which several people had campaigned for over many years. | Sir Brian Langstaff, who is leading the inquiry, said Monday marks the start of something which several people had campaigned for over many years. |
| He said there had already been more than 100,000 documents submitted, with the prospect of lots more to come. | He said there had already been more than 100,000 documents submitted, with the prospect of lots more to come. |
| "There will also be many hundreds of witness statements. I am grateful for each and every contribution. | "There will also be many hundreds of witness statements. I am grateful for each and every contribution. |
| "There must however still be more who have knowledge, documents and their own accounts to add. I know that going over the past can be difficult, but I encourage them to come forward." | "There must however still be more who have knowledge, documents and their own accounts to add. I know that going over the past can be difficult, but I encourage them to come forward." |
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