'No sense of victory': Heartbreaking victims of the infected blood scandal say their whole lives have been overshadowed by agony as inquiry report finally vindicates them

'No sense of victory': Heartbreaking victims of the infected blood scandal say their whole lives have been overshadowed by agony as inquiry report finally vindicates them By Chris Pollard Published: 07:31 EDT, 20 May 2024 | Updated: 07:31 EDT, 20 May 2024 e-mail 1 View comments VICTIMS of the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS said they felt ‘no sense of victory’ when the Infected Blood Inquiry concluded today — as the agony they have suffered has ‘completely overshadowed’ their lives. Tens of thousands of people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. They include people who needed blood transfusions for accidents, in surgery or during childbirth, and people with blood disorders who were treated with donated plasma or blood.

Up to 6,000 people with haemophilia were infected with hepatitis, and 1,250 of them were also infected with HIV. Of the group who were infected with both hepatitis C and HIV, only around 250 are still alive today. Among them is Andy Evans , 47, who was infected when he was just five years old.

He started a campaign group called Tainted Blood in 2006, calling for justice for victims. Andy Evans was infected with HIV and hepatitis from his haemophilia treatment when he was just five years old Andy was given Factor VIII blood product imported from the US, much of which came from blood donations given by prisoners, prostitutes and d.