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| Infected blood inquiry judge calls for more testing for hepatitis C | Infected blood inquiry judge calls for more testing for hepatitis C |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Wider medical testing should be carried out to detect the “terrible disease” of hepatitis C and ensure it is eliminated faster, the judge chairing the infected blood inquiry has recommended. | |
| On the first day of the main inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff supported calls for greater public and medical awareness of the condition that has infected 180 million people worldwide. | On the first day of the main inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff supported calls for greater public and medical awareness of the condition that has infected 180 million people worldwide. |
| The inquiry, held at Fleetbank House, near Fleet Street in central London, is expected to last up to three years. It will hear from people who have contracted HIV and hepatitis C through blood products and transfusions as well as, later on, from NHS and Department of Health officials. | |
| What is the contaminated blood scandal? | What is the contaminated blood scandal? |
| In his opening remarks, the former high court judge said he hoped the hearings would “spread the message that those who are struggling with infections of HIV or hepatitis through blood or blood products are not alone”. | In his opening remarks, the former high court judge said he hoped the hearings would “spread the message that those who are struggling with infections of HIV or hepatitis through blood or blood products are not alone”. |
| “Anything to increase public knowledge of the symptoms , causes – and as so many of you have told me movingly in your witness statements, the consequences of late discovery – of hepatitis C in particular will be of great value to the public, because so many symptoms of that disease seem to mimic a range of common conditions. | |
| “Anything that they can do to raise awareness is particularly important given that there are some 180 million people worldwide who suffer from it, and the World Health Organization has recently announced that it plans to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. It may be possible to make that happen even earlier in this country but that depends on people being tested, otherwise it will take too long to eliminate what has been a terrible disease.” | |
| Jenni Richards QC, counsel to the inquiry, said the Hepatitis C Trust continues to receive calls from people who have only recently been diagnosed. Potentially thousands more people are at risk but not aware they are infected. | Jenni Richards QC, counsel to the inquiry, said the Hepatitis C Trust continues to receive calls from people who have only recently been diagnosed. Potentially thousands more people are at risk but not aware they are infected. |
| The NHS has recently circulated letters to GPs across the country, she revealed, urging doctors to make sure patients who might be infected are given blood tests. “The inquiry brings the letter to public attention,” Richards said, “in the hope that it may encourage greater public awareness on the part of clinicians as well as in the public more widely.” | The NHS has recently circulated letters to GPs across the country, she revealed, urging doctors to make sure patients who might be infected are given blood tests. “The inquiry brings the letter to public attention,” Richards said, “in the hope that it may encourage greater public awareness on the part of clinicians as well as in the public more widely.” |
| The inquiry has so far identified 341 separate depositories where documents relating to the contamination scandal are held and is working its way through files and electronic records. Researchers have already read 2.5m pages of Department of Health documents. | The inquiry has so far identified 341 separate depositories where documents relating to the contamination scandal are held and is working its way through files and electronic records. Researchers have already read 2.5m pages of Department of Health documents. |
| More than 1,200 witness statements have been submitted to the inquiry, which intends to publish them all eventually. Where statements contain criticism of individuals, particularly doctors, they will be contacted in advance for their response where possible. | More than 1,200 witness statements have been submitted to the inquiry, which intends to publish them all eventually. Where statements contain criticism of individuals, particularly doctors, they will be contacted in advance for their response where possible. |
| The first victim to give evidence was Derek Martindale, who suffers from haemophilia, which means he lacks natural clotting agents that prevent him from bleeding. In the 1980s, he was being treated with factor 8 blood products at York hospital to help control his condition. | The first victim to give evidence was Derek Martindale, who suffers from haemophilia, which means he lacks natural clotting agents that prevent him from bleeding. In the 1980s, he was being treated with factor 8 blood products at York hospital to help control his condition. |
| Both he and his younger brother, Richard, were diagnosed as haemophiliacs at a young age. Some time between August 1984 and August 1985, he told the inquiry, he was infected with HIV by the treatment he received. | |
| “Following all the reports in the newspapers regarding how Aids and this plague was spread across the globe and how haemophiliacs were one of the high-risk groups, I went to the hospital and asked if I could be tested,” Martindale said. | |
| “I remember the date. It was Friday 13 September 1985. I went to the hospital at lunchtime to get the results. I was told I was HIV positive and that I had about a year to live, also that I was not to tell anybody including my family and my parents. I was 23.” | “I remember the date. It was Friday 13 September 1985. I went to the hospital at lunchtime to get the results. I was told I was HIV positive and that I had about a year to live, also that I was not to tell anybody including my family and my parents. I was 23.” |
| It was a time when there was public stigma associated with those infected with HIV. “When you are young,” Martindale said, “you are invincible. I was fit apart from the bleeds and then I thought I had 12 months to live. | It was a time when there was public stigma associated with those infected with HIV. “When you are young,” Martindale said, “you are invincible. I was fit apart from the bleeds and then I thought I had 12 months to live. |
| “It was hard to comprehend. There was fear. It became more and more prominent in the media warning that they were all going to die. I couldn’t believe this was going to happen to me.” | “It was hard to comprehend. There was fear. It became more and more prominent in the media warning that they were all going to die. I couldn’t believe this was going to happen to me.” |
| His brother was also infected and so they could talk to each other about HIV infection. “He became ill. Things didn’t work for him and he died in 1990.” Derek Martindale said he was at the inquiry partly to give evidence on his brother’s behalf. | His brother was also infected and so they could talk to each other about HIV infection. “He became ill. Things didn’t work for him and he died in 1990.” Derek Martindale said he was at the inquiry partly to give evidence on his brother’s behalf. |
| “He knew he was dying. He knew he had Aids and that he didn’t have long to live. I wasn’t there for him [having moved to London]. It was the biggest regret of my life because he’s gone and I couldn’t do anything to make amends.” | “He knew he was dying. He knew he had Aids and that he didn’t have long to live. I wasn’t there for him [having moved to London]. It was the biggest regret of my life because he’s gone and I couldn’t do anything to make amends.” |
| Martindale said one girlfriend had left him after he revealed his condition to her. “She said she couldn’t stand and watch me die,” he recalled. He subsequently married his wife, Margaret, and had a son, John, who sat alongside him at the inquiry. When he told her about his health, she simply said: “Is that it?” She said they should not hide anything. | |
| In 1997, Martindale became aware that he had been infected with hepatitis C. He has experienced bouts of pneumonia and pleurisy as a result and been treated with drugs that has caused depression and loss of appetite, he told the inquiry. He has cirrhosis and scarring on his liver. | In 1997, Martindale became aware that he had been infected with hepatitis C. He has experienced bouts of pneumonia and pleurisy as a result and been treated with drugs that has caused depression and loss of appetite, he told the inquiry. He has cirrhosis and scarring on his liver. |
| The inquiry was packed with victims and bereaved relatives. Many wore black, red and yellow ties – black in memory of those who have died, red for HIV and yellow for hepatitis C. There were rounds of applause as the judge and witnesses spoke. | The inquiry was packed with victims and bereaved relatives. Many wore black, red and yellow ties – black in memory of those who have died, red for HIV and yellow for hepatitis C. There were rounds of applause as the judge and witnesses spoke. |
| The NHS letter about hepatitis C circulated to GPs was sent out this month. It said: “Hepatitis C often doesn’t have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged. This means many people have the infection without realising it. | The NHS letter about hepatitis C circulated to GPs was sent out this month. It said: “Hepatitis C often doesn’t have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged. This means many people have the infection without realising it. |
| “When symptoms do occur, they can be mistaken for another condition. Symptoms can include: flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and a high temperature, feeling tired all the time, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and feeling and being sick. | “When symptoms do occur, they can be mistaken for another condition. Symptoms can include: flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and a high temperature, feeling tired all the time, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and feeling and being sick. |
| “The only way to know for certain if these symptoms are caused by hepatitis C is to get tested. Clinical staff should therefore consider asking patients who present with nonspecific symptoms whether they may have had blood or blood products prior to 1991 (eg following RTA, childbirth etc) and offering them a screen for blood-borne viruses.” | “The only way to know for certain if these symptoms are caused by hepatitis C is to get tested. Clinical staff should therefore consider asking patients who present with nonspecific symptoms whether they may have had blood or blood products prior to 1991 (eg following RTA, childbirth etc) and offering them a screen for blood-borne viruses.” |
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