Inquiry to be held into contaminated blood scandal

The prime minister has confirmed that an inquiry is to take place into the contaminated blood scandal that resulted in at least 2,400 deaths, which has been described as the worst treatment disaster within the history of the NHS.

The events took place in the 1970s and 1980s, when thousands of NHS patients received blood transfusions from abroad that had been infected with HIV and Hepatitis C. Of the patients that were affected, many believe that there was a cover-up and they were not informed of the risks.

Teresa May has said “They deserve answers, and the inquiry that I have announced today will give them those answers, so they will know why this happened, how it happened.

“This was an appalling tragedy and it should never have happened.”

A recent report discovered that around 7,500 patients had been infected by the imported blood products, many of which suffered from haemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder, which requires regular blood transfusions with a clotting agent made from donated blood.

Affected patients and families of those who have died will be consulted on the form of the investigation, which may be a judge-led statutory inquiry or a public Hillsborough-style inquiry.

A fund has been established to help survivors and if the investigation finds culpability, then those affected may look to seek compensation though the courts.

The Haemophilia Society’s chief executive Liz Carroll, said “The government has for decades denied negligence and refused to provide compensation for those affected, this inquiry will finally be able to properly consider evidence of wrongdoing.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence compensation claims, and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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