Infected blood scandal was ‘not an accident’, with ‘catalogue of failures’ and ‘downright deception’ by NHS and governments
The infected blood scandal was “not an accident” – and its failures lie with “successive governments, the NHS, and blood services”, a public inquiry has found.
From the 1970s, 30,000 people were “knowingly” infected with either HIV or Hepatitis C because “those in authority did not put patient safety first”, the report into the inquiry said. Around 3,000 people died.
Follow live:
Reaction to long-awaited report
The response of the government and NHS has “compounded” victims’ suffering, the inquiry’s chair Sir Brian Langstaff added.
The response included the “deliberate destruction of some documents” by Department of Health workers, in what Sir Brian described as a “pervasive cover-up” and “downright deception”.
Among the key findings from the report are:
- Patients were knowingly exposed to unacceptable risks of infection;
- The risk of blood products causing severe infection were well known before most patients were treated – in the case of hepatitis since the end of the Second World War;
- Transfusions were frequently given in situations where they were not clinically needed;
- Pupils at Treloar’s school were regarded as “objects of research rather than children”;
- Blood products imported to treat many people were unsafe and should not have been licensed for use in the UK;
- There was no contact tracing exercise carried out when Hepatitis C screenings were introduced;
- There were repeated and ongoing failures by governments and the NHS to acknowledge people should not have been infected;
- They repeatedly used inaccurate, misleading and defensive lines;
- Infected people were “cruelly” told they received the best treatment available;
- There was a refusal for decades to provide compensation;
- Governments refused to set up a public inquiry until 2017.
Sir Brian makes 12 recommendations in his report, which include an immediate compensation scheme, memorials across the UK and at Treloar’s school, and that anyone who received a blood transfusion before 1996 should be urgently tested for Hepatitis C.
After the 2,527-page report was published on Monday, victims of the scandal spoke at a news conference in central London.
Clive Smith, of the Haemophilia Society, said the “cover-up” came as “no surprise” to him and others infected.
“We’ve known for decades. Now the country knows, the whole world knows,” he said. “This was systemic, by government, the civil service, and healthcare professionals.”
Read more:
The stories behind 100 victims
‘I gave my young son to his killers’
Infections are ‘worst thing you can imagine’
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The victms of the scandal
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Mr Smith added: “There are doctors out there who should have been prosecuted for gross negligence manslaughter… those people should have been in the dock.”
Reacting to the report, Jason Evans who is part of the Factor VIII campaign group, said: “Many of the politicians should hang their heads in shame… no single person has been responsible for this scandal.”
He added: “I would expect, over the coming days and weeks, for many more people to come forward and say sorry.”
And Andy Evans, representing the Tainted Blood campaigners, challenged those in authority, saying: “We know that this should never have happened. What was your part in it?”
He went on: “Justice delayed really is, in this case, justice denied.”
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway