In an effort to uncover more victims of the contaminated blood scandal, General Practitioners (GPs) in England are teaming up with their patients to assist the NHS. The scandal, which impacted over 30,000 individuals in the UK, involved potential exposure to the hepatitis C virus through tainted blood transfusions during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Starting in June, patients who underwent a blood transfusion before 1996 and are registering at a GP practice will be offered a hepatitis C test.
Last year, the BBC shed light on the significant number of undiagnosed cases as individuals with life-threatening liver damage caused by the virus are still being identified. Although hepatitis C can now be effectively treated with modern anti-viral medications, if left undetected, it can silently infect the liver without displaying any noticeable symptoms for an extended period. This can lead to severe liver damage, rendering the organ irreparable.
The unfortunate case of Maureen Arkley, who passed away in 2023, highlights the lack of testing and diagnosis following the infected blood scandal. Diagnosed with hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver more than four decades after undergoing multiple blood transfusions, Maureen was never informed by her GP or any NHS personnel about the potential virus exposure. Tragically, this incident is part of one of the worst treatment failures in NHS history, with 3,000 individuals succumbing to HIV and hepatitis C infections after receiving contaminated blood products.
As per the recommendations outlined in the Infected Blood Inquiry report released in May 2024, NHS England plans to inquire about previous blood transfusions on the online GP registration form for approximately 400,000 individuals born before 1996 annually. If a history of blood transfusion is confirmed, patients will have the option to self-test for hepatitis C at home using a finger prick blood test that is then sent to a lab for analysis. The Hepatitis C Trust is also urging anyone who received a blood transfusion prior to 1996 to undergo testing, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to identify undiagnosed cases and provide necessary support
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
