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Cameron apologises to those infected with hepatitis C and HIV 30 years ago Cameron apologises to those infected with hepatitis C and HIV 30 years ago
(about 2 hours later)
David Cameron has apologised on behalf of the government to thousands of people who were infected by hepatitis C and HIV after being given contaminated blood more than 30 years ago.David Cameron has apologised on behalf of the government to thousands of people who were infected by hepatitis C and HIV after being given contaminated blood more than 30 years ago.
His apology came after an independent inquiry in Scotland into the widespread contamination of blood supplies by hepatitis C and HIV viruses called for a mass screening exercise for anyone in Scotland who was given blood before September 1991.His apology came after an independent inquiry in Scotland into the widespread contamination of blood supplies by hepatitis C and HIV viruses called for a mass screening exercise for anyone in Scotland who was given blood before September 1991.
It was immediately followed by an apology from Shona Robison, the Scottish health secretary, who promised to launch the mass screening programme, and to review and improve financial support schemes for those affected. It was immediately followed by an apology from Shona Robison, the Scottish health secretary, who promised to start the mass screening programme, and to review and improve financial support schemes for those affected.
The five-year inquiry headed by former judge Lord Penrose described the scandal as “the stuff of nightmares”. The five-year inquiry, headed by the former judge Lord Penrose, described the scandal as “the stuff of nightmares”. It estimated that nearly 3,000 people in Scotland were infected with hepatitis C and 78 people contracted HIV after the authorities failed to screen blood supplies and blood products for the potentially fatal viruses.
It estimated that nearly 3,000 people in Scotland were infected with hepatitis C and another 78 people contracted HIV after the authorities failed to screen blood supplies and blood products for the potentially fatal viruses. Penrose, who was unable to present his findings after being taken to hospital seriously ill, found that in three of the four deaths he was asked to investigate, infection with hepatitis C was the cause.
Penrose, who was unable to present his findings after being taken to hospital seriously ill, found that in three of the four fatalities he was asked to investigate, their infection with hepatitis C caused their deaths. In a statement read on his behalf, Penrose said blood transfusion patients and haemophiliacs in the 1980s had been “confronted with the reality that what had been presented as a treatment to extend life and improve its quality carried a risk of serious and potentially fatal disease. The resultant distress, anger and distrust were clearly demonstrated to the inquiry.”
In a statement read on his behalf, Penrose said blood transfusion patients and haemophiliacs in the 1980s had been “confronted with the reality that what had been presented as a treatment to extend life and improve its quality carried a risk of serious and potentially fatal disease.
“The resultant distress, anger and distrust were clearly demonstrated to the inquiry.”
Cameron was asked at prime minister’s questions at Westminster by the MP Rory Stewart: “Could the prime minister, as the last act of his government, ensure a full apology, transparent publication and above all proper compensation for the families terribly affected by this scandal?”Cameron was asked at prime minister’s questions at Westminster by the MP Rory Stewart: “Could the prime minister, as the last act of his government, ensure a full apology, transparent publication and above all proper compensation for the families terribly affected by this scandal?”
Cameron said: “I can do all of the three things that he asked for. I know that many members on all sides of this house have raised the question of infected blood. I’ve spoken about how constituents have been to my surgeries. While it will be for the next government to take account of these findings, it is right that we use this moment to recognise the pain and the suffering experienced by people as a result of this tragedy.Cameron said: “I can do all of the three things that he asked for. I know that many members on all sides of this house have raised the question of infected blood. I’ve spoken about how constituents have been to my surgeries. While it will be for the next government to take account of these findings, it is right that we use this moment to recognise the pain and the suffering experienced by people as a result of this tragedy.
“It is difficult to imagine the feelings of unfairness that people must feel at being infected by something like hepatitis C or HIV as a result of a totally unrelated treatment within the NHS and to each and every one of those people I would like to say sorry on behalf of the government for something that should not have happened.“It is difficult to imagine the feelings of unfairness that people must feel at being infected by something like hepatitis C or HIV as a result of a totally unrelated treatment within the NHS and to each and every one of those people I would like to say sorry on behalf of the government for something that should not have happened.
“No amount of money can ever fully make up for what did happen, but it’s vital we move as soon as possible to improve the way that payments are made to those infected by this blood. I can confirm today that the government will provide up to £25m in 2015/16 to support any transitional arrangements to a better payment system and I commit that if I’m prime minister in May we will respond to the findings of this report as a matter of priority.”“No amount of money can ever fully make up for what did happen, but it’s vital we move as soon as possible to improve the way that payments are made to those infected by this blood. I can confirm today that the government will provide up to £25m in 2015/16 to support any transitional arrangements to a better payment system and I commit that if I’m prime minister in May we will respond to the findings of this report as a matter of priority.”
As Penrose’s findings were released in Edinburgh, furious relatives and their lawyers appealed to the Scottish government for a formal apology and urged ministers to open up a compensation scheme for those left ill. As Penrose’s findings were released in Edinburgh, furious relatives and their lawyers appealed to the Scottish government for a formal apology and urged ministers to open up a compensation scheme for those left ill. They were angry that Penrose appeared to make only that single recommendation, for a mass screening programme. Some shouted “whitewash” as his findings were published.
They were angry that Penrose appeared to make only that single recommendation, for a mass screening programme. Some shouted “whitewash” as his findings were published. Penrose ruled that, overall, little could have been done differently by the authorities to prevent the contamination, but mistakes were made. He criticised a 10-month delay in 1990 by the advisory committee on the virological safety of blood to recommend that screening start, a delay blamed on the first Gulf war, cost issues in England and Wales and the decision by Scottish authorities to follow a UK-wide timetable.
Penrose ruled that overall, little could have been done differently by the authorities to prevent the contamination, but mistakes were made. Penrose believes that Malcolm Rifkind, then Scottish secretary, could have started screening earlier in Scotland if his officials had alerted him and he had chosen to break from a UK-wide timetable. He said the failure by the national blood transfusion service to review its use of transfusions from prison inmates – who have a far higher risk of blood-borne diseases because of drug use and sexual activity – until 1982 was a mistake.
He criticised a 10-month delay in 1990 by the advisory committee on the virological safety of blood to recommend that screening start, a delay blamed on the first Gulf war, cost issues in England and Wales and the decision by Scottish authorities to follow a UK-wide timetable.
Penrose believes the then Scottish secretary, Malcolm Rikfind, could have started screening earlier in Scotland if his officials had alerted him and he had chosen to break from a UK-wide timetable.
He said the failure by the national blood transfusion service to review its use of blood transfusions from prison inmates – who have a far higher risk of blood-borne diseases because of drug use and sexual activity – until 1982 was a mistake.