Victims of the infected blood scandal have described feeling “emotional and nervous” as the final report into the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS is due to be published. The Infected Blood Inquiry will conclude on Monday after decades of “tireless” work by campaigners. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is widely expected to issue an apology following the publication of the report, which will lay bare the scale of the failings.
Tens of thousands of people in the UK were infected with deadly viruses after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. These include people who needed blood transfusions for accidents, in surgery or during childbirth, and patients with certain blood disorders who were treated with donated blood plasma products or blood transfusions. Dave Farry's dad, John, who lived in Ferryhill, contracted HIV while undergoing treatment for haemophilia and died from the disease in 1985.
John Farry (Image: Contributor) Dave Farry (Image: Sarah Caldecott) Carol Grayson, who if from Hartlepool but lives in Newcastle, lost her husband, Peter, who was also a haemophiliac, after he contracted HIV and Hepatitis C. He died in 2005 at the age of 47. Carol and Pater Grayson (Image: Contributor) The Northern Echo launched its Fight for Justice campaign in 1986 to highlight how the Government had failed to act quickly enough to prevent contaminated blood from being supplied to haemophiliacs.
Some 3,000 people have.