The Infected Blood Inquiry report has revealed that the majority of infected blood donations in Northern Ireland came from prisoners and army personnel. The report, which was published on Monday, found that the catalogue of failures that led to thousands of people being infected with HIV and hepatitis C was altogether “a calamity”. It also disclosed that Northern Ireland had “little observable influence” on the scandal and relied heavily on London for decision-making on the production and management of blood.
Health Minister Robin Swann has apologised for the damage caused by the infected blood scandal in Northern Ireland, stating that although it is a central government issue, he will urge his successor to guarantee that victims are fairly supported and compensated. The inquiry has recommended the establishment of a compensation scheme and a permanent memorial in Northern Ireland. Additionally, the latter suggests that NI’s Medical and Dental training agencies take precautions to ensure that healthcare leaders learn the necessary lessons and that a statutory duty of candour is introduced and extended to cover them.
More than 30,000 people across the UK, including Northern Ireland, were infected with HIV and hepatitis C between 1970 and 1991 by contaminated blood products and transfusions, making it the worst treatment disaster in NHS history. Blood donations were infrequent in Northern Ireland during the 70s and 80s, with the province being the least self-sufficient out of all regions, leading to blood being donated by a variety of sources, primarily prisoners and service members.
Conan McIlwrath, who was born with haemophilia and contracted hepatitis C stage one from blood contaminated during his childhood, was among those who travelled to Westminster to receive the inquiry report. He spoke of some “harsh and damaging language” used in the report and Starkly pointed out that the government should respond quickly and firmly. Paul Kirkpatrick, who also has haemophilia and contracted hepatitis B and C, stated that it has been a “very emotional and anxious day”. He emphasised that victims now need to “get on with our lives”.
Two main groups of people affected by the scandal were those with haemophilia and similar disorders, as well as people who were given infected clotting treatments of blood. In the 1970s, the UK was struggling to meet the demand for blood-clotting treatments, so imported supplies from the US. Factor VIII was made by pooling plasma from tens of thousands of donors, and if just one donor carried a virus, the entire batch could get contaminated. After receiving the infected treatments, approximately 1,250 people in the UK with bleeding disorders received both HIV and hepatitis C, with 380 of them being children. Around two-thirds later died of Aids-related illnesses, leading to unintentional transmission of HIV to their partners, with 2,400 to 5,000 people developing Hepatitis C independently
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