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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 4 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. Ministers from the UK and Scottish governments have apologised and pledged extra funding after it emerged that more than 3,000 people were infected by hepatitis C and HIV via 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. David Cameron formally apologised during prime ministers questions after an independent inquiry recommended that ministers launch a mass screening exercise for everyone in Scotland who was given blood before September 1991 to test for hepatitis C.
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 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.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.
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. The prime minister promised to release £25m immediately to increase financial support for the victims, with a pledge to increase that after the election. “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,” he told MPs.
That 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. Scottish ministers have already spent £30m on support programmes.
Their offers failed to quell angry complaints from some victims and relatives about the inquiry’s conclusions.
After it emerged that Penrose had only recommended the mass screening programme, there were shouts of “whitewash” as the report was presented at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Several relatives burnt a copy of the five volume report outside the building.
Glenn Wilkinson, a protester from the Contaminated Blood Campaign, said: “I feel totally devastated. It was obvious from the atmosphere in the room there that everybody is shocked. We didn’t expect the world [but] we certainly expected a lot more than that.”
Bill Wright, of Haemophillia Scotland, urged the disheartened relatives to be calm, insisting the report gave campaigners a great deal of evidence to bolster their demands for more action from ministers. His charity estimates that 193 people have died as a result of the contamination, making it the “greatest scandal ever to engulf the NHS”.
Focusing on the history and handling of the contamination solely in Scotland, Penrose estimated that just under 3,000 people were infected through transfusions and blood product therapies with hepatitis C and 78 people contracted HIV.
The blood transfusion service had failed to screen blood supplies and blood products for the potentially fatal viruses, and it had also failed to stop blood transfusions from prison inmates – who have a far higher risk of blood-borne diseases because of drug use and sexual activity – until 1982.
Penrose, who was unable to present his findings after being taken to hospital with a serious illness, found that in three of the four deaths he was asked to investigate, infection with hepatitis C was the cause.
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?” Penrose ruled that, overall, little could have been done differently by the authorities to prevent the contamination, but mistakes were made.
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. 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.
“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. 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.
“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. 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 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.