BBC News has reported that approximately 1,750 people in the UK are suffering from an undiagnosed hepatitis C infection as a result of contaminated blood transfusions. The government and NHS failed to adequately trace individuals who were most at risk of having the virus, according to official documents viewed by the BBC. The records reveal that officials slowed detection rates and attempted to suppress public awareness of the disease, risking patient safety. In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, up to 27,000 people were exposed to hepatitis C through blood transfusions.
BBC analysis of the statistics submitted to the Infected Blood Inquiry and Freedom of Information requests to the support schemes for contaminated blood reveal the true extent of undiagnosed cases of hepatitis C in the UK. Some people have claimed that they felt patronised and neglected by doctors, who offered them only limited testing and support.
Victims of the infected blood scandal died as a consequence of contaminated blood provided by the NHS. Some 3,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after receiving contaminated blood products, many of whom were haemophiliacs. The remainder of those affected received transfusions following accidents, emergencies, or childbirth. Often asymptomatic at first, hepatitis C infection can lead to liver cirrhosis and other life-threatening conditions.
Maureen Arkley, for example, had complained about stomach pains before she was eventually diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C – conditions that proved fatal. She had undergone an operation in 1976 that required multiple blood transfusions, which appeared on her medical records. However, she was never contacted by her GP or anyone in the NHS about her potential exposure to hepatitis.
The documents revealed that some officials were reluctant to prioritise care for those affected by contaminated blood in NHS facilities due to cost constraints. Even though health officials and NHS staff acknowledged the potentially fatal complications related to hepatitis in 1980, the “look back” programmes to trace blood recipients were not introduced until 1995. By delaying this exercise, officials reduced the chances of infected patients receiving treatment before permanent liver damage was caused
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